Conservatives from across the nation will get their first in-the-flesh look at Marco Rubio Thursday as he delivers the keynote address before the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Click back here for coverage and updates:
Marco Rubio speech at CPAC conference brings conservatives to their feet:
Marco Rubio, the 38-year-old son of Cuban immigrants and candidate for an open Senate seat in Florida, electrified thousands of conservatives Thursday morning with an impassioned defense of American exceptionalism.
Beth Reinhard: Is Marco Rubio the outsider he says he is?
But his schedule this week doesn’t look like a path blazed by an insurgent. Wednesday night, he was slated to attend a fundraiser at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Washington co-hosted by the former ambassador to Barbados. After his speech to CPAC — Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney also are on the program — he’s got back-to-back receptions. One is hosted by lobbying powerhouse Peter Madigan, a top fundraiser for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The other is hosted by a few members of Congress, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter, Liz, and former White House advisor, Mary Matalin.
Politico: Marco Rubio: Belle of the CPAC ball:
“I think this is the most anticipated speech there because most conservatives haven’t had a chance to see him in the flesh,” said Tim Phillips, president of the conservative limited government group Americans for Prosperity. “So there’s an excitement about that.”
Ken Vogel: At CPAC, a new conservative order:
On Thursday, when some 10,000 activists gather in Washington for this year’s conference, they will find themselves part of a conservative movement significantly different than it was during the Bush administration, or even in 2009.
