Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is out front of other GOP presidential candidates in the fight for the Christian evangelical vote, will speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, which is fast becoming the first Republican “primary” of the 2016 season.
CPAC officials Friday confirmed that Jindal, who recently visited Iowa and is helping to host a prayer event Jan. 24 at Louisiana State University, will speak at the expanded, four-day meeting Feb. 25-28.
In a statement provided to Secrets, Jindal said, “I am honored to return to CPAC to address the several thousand conservative activists and students who are making a difference across America. For more than 40 years CPAC has been our conservative movement’s family reunion. This year’s redesigned CPAC is certain to motivate and energize conservatives like never before to have an impact on their campuses and in their communities and I look forward to being a part of it.”
Jindal was praised as a “hard-charging reformer” and conservative by American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp. The ACU runs CPAC.
“Gov. Bobby Jindal has a distinguished record of public service and in each post he has earned a reputation as a hard-charging reformer,” he said, adding, “I am proud to consider him a friend, and I know the conservative activists at CPAC 2015 are eager to hear about his plans for the future.”
Jindal has been openly praying and talking about God as he considers a presidential bid. That is attractive to voters who grabbed on to Mike Huckabee when he rain in 2008.
Huckabee is also expected to run and reach out to evangelicals in Iowa and early Southern primary and caucus states, but with Jindal so far out front it Huckabee may have to battle back, said evangelical leaders.
CPAC this year is adding a day at the beginning just to train young conservatives in political tactics, the first major expansion of Washington’s main event for conservative activists.
Others speaking include Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Rand Paul, former business executive Carly Fiorina, Sen. Tim Scott, and talk show giants Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
