With conservatives more energized than ever in anticipation of the fall presidential election, the upcoming four-day CPAC summit is poised to break attendance records and set to host the leading GOP presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, Jeb Bush and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Explaining why the confab is expecting over 11,000, a record set last year, American Conservative Union President Matt Schlapp said, “Our country is a critical moment.”
His ACU hosts the Conservative Political Action Conference March 2-5. It is one of Washington’s most-covered events and he said that a record number of journalists and bloggers are expected, over 1,000.
The theme this year is pulled from Ronald Reagan’s first public speech, to CPAC, after his 1980 election: “Our time is now.”
Schlapp said that “this is the right time to harken back” to Reagan and his achievements in creating the conservative movement that several of the GOP presidential candidates are hoping to continue.
The annual event, this year co-sponsored by the Washington Examiner, is an important stop on the road to the White House for candidates. “For anyone who wants to get the Republican nomination, they should be at CPAC,” said Schlapp. He added that “it is respectful” for all candidates to address the convention.
Most are scheduled to speak. They include Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, and Sen. Ted Cruz. Organizers expect Sen. Marco Rubio to be there, but Schlapp said that Ohio Gov. John Kasich is “taking a pass.”
Several former GOP candidates are also planning to attend, including Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
The conference will also feature dozens of issue sessions and a pro-gun town hall with the NRA dubbed, “Thank God for Guns in America.”
The full list of sessions and speakers is below.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
