Granted, but no other candidate has been able to accomplish the same thing. There were plenty of other people at CPAC besides the Paulbots who stood up and cheered after Rand spoke. Ditto at UCBerkeley. Everyone without exception stood up and gave a long ovation at both venues. I would not minimize that skill and ability.
Paul hurt himself when he opened his campaign by moving left and coming out against the party platform and for gay marriage and a social liberal agenda, and of course his embracing of the GOPe.
As far as CPAC.
Here’s a list of past CPAC straw poll winners.
1976 Ronald Reagan
1980 Ronald Reagan
1984 Ronald Reagan
1986 Jack Kemp
1987 Jack Kemp
1993 Jack Kemp
1995 Phil Gramm
1998 Steve Forbes
1999 Gary Bauer
2000 George W. Bush
2005 Rudy Giuliani
2007 Mitt Romney
2008 Mitt Romney
2009 Mitt Romney
2010 Ron Paul
2011 Ron Paul
2012 Mitt Romney
2013 Rand Paul
2014 Rand Paul