Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with the crowd after his speech at last year's CPAC Conference. He will participate again this year in the event, held by the American Conservative Union in Washington, D.C.
Some 1,200 media credentials were issued for this year’s event and candidates’ speeches will be broadcast live. About 60 percent of CPAC attendees in recent years have been between the ages of 18 and 25, and about two-thirds are male, according to past straw poll responses.
The list of speakers lined up to address the hotel ballroom crowd includes Speaker John Boehner (Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.), Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former presidential candidates Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Herman Cain.
The CPAC straw poll has not proved to be a reliable predictor of the GOP nominee, but this year it could serve as a test of conservative support with just four candidates vying for the nomination. Romney won the straw poll in 2007 and again in 2008, even though a majority of respondents that year voted after Romney dropped out.
“Some conservatives in attendance may have had a different first choice,” Madden said, “but Governor Romney’s message about stopping wasteful spending and turning our economy around is a message that all conservatives who participated in the primary process can rally around in support of a general election nominee.”
Cardenas said Romney has his “fair share” of support among the 33 members of the ACU board of directors, which includes Grover Norquist and principals from conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation and the National Rifle Association and is generally representative of the conservative movement. But despite superior organization and overwhelming establishment support, Romney will still have questions to answer when he steps onto the podium at 1 p.m. Friday.
Cardenas said all three candidates have different missions at CPAC. “Newt has got to show that he is still relevant, and Santorum still has to show that he can be prime time,” he said.
“The hurdle Romney needs to overcome is the authenticity issue, because it’s been brought on so successfully by his opponents in the primary,” Cardenas said. “This is a perfect place to deal with it, and he’s got an opportunity to really hit a home run here and make a difference with that impression.”
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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