It’s about that time again — the return of CPAC.
Headlining this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference are Florida’s Marco Rubio and Rand Paul from Kentucky, two presidential contenders leading the cheers at the conservative movement’s annual popularity contest/pep rally.
For those who think it is too early to be talking about 2016, consider this: Iowa caucuses may be two years away, but recent cycles have shown that candidates start their campaigns at least six months before Iowa. Before that, potential candidates will begin obtaining the backing of donors and getting a foothold in the early-voting states. That makes 2014 just about right to hit the ground running.
“This presidential cycle for Republicans starts earlier than ever, in part because it’s the first time in a while we have an open seat without a leading candidate who has run before,” Al Cardenas, chair of CPAC sponsor American Conservative Union tells Beth Reinhard of the National Journal.
“We’re almost off and running,” he added, “and CPAC is the beginning of that journey.”
Hillary Clinton may be dominating the Democratic field, but for Republicans, it’s wide open. So far, there are a couple fast-rising newcomers, as well as a few 2012 also-rans. This year’s headliners are somewhat of a 2013 repeat, where Paul won the CPAC straw poll in 2013 and Rubio was a close second.
As of Thursday, Rand and Rubio are the only CPAC speakers confirmed, but several others might attend the March 6-8 event at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland — Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum.
CPAC is not without wild cards: Chris Christie and Jeb Bush. Both Christie, snubbed last year at CPAC for spending time with President Obama post-Superstorm Sandy, and the former Florida governor are expected to keep their distance this year.
The New Jersey governor will be under the microscope after the scandal over a massive traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge, which was engineered by Christie’s aides to punish a Democratic mayor.
CPAC in 2013 had an audience of about 10,000 supporters, Reinhard says, and registration is well ahead of that pace
Traditionally, CPAC offers a crucial political moment that often goes on to frame the conservative agenda. In 2012, Mitt Romney claimed he was “severely conservative,” an attempt by the former Massachusetts governor to remake his image to a right-leaning primary electorate. Paul referred to the GOP as “stale and moss-covered” in 2013, a hint of the conflict to arise between the Republican old guard and the Tea Party.
Acceptance of same-sex marriage was another battle within the GOP. A few CPAC participants threatened a boycott over the inclusion of GOProud, a Republican gay-rights group, excluded for the past two years. That protest kept many away. GOProud cofounder Jimmy LaSalvia eventually left the Republican Party and became an independent.
“I spent my career trying to change the atmosphere in the conservative movement because I assumed the antigay bigotry would melt away,” LaSalvia told the National Journal. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s time to pull the plug on the Republican Party.”
GOProud is working with CPAC about a return in 2014. “We are looking forward to having a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship with them,” said GOProud Director Ross Hemminger.
The CPAC conference is coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Republican National Committee autopsy of the 2012 election. RNC officials said Tuesday they are making progress on the highly promoted blueprint for winning back the White House, a plan that includes beefing up technological prowess and appealing more to women, minorities and younger voters. A majority of the RNC staff now are working outside Washington to replicate the juggernaut field operation that fueled President Barack Obama’s victories.
Well in advance of the RNC 2016 ground game, Rubio and Paul — two ambitious Republicans — will start facing friendly audiences, both in Washington D.C. and beyond.
