Annual Conservative Gathering Gets Underway Today

Conservative activists from around the country will descend on Washington today for the start of this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.

The annual event, sponsored by the American Conservative Union, will feature speeches from big names within the conservative movement. Tea Party darling Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) will hit leadoff on Thursday for a lineup that also includes prominent lawmakers like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and freshman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Rumored 2012 presidential candidates including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) will also speak today.

Bachmann, known by her frequently voiced opposition to Democratic policies, is sure to fire up conservatives eager to criticize President Obama. Another of Obama’s biggest critics, however, former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, declined an invitation to give the closing speech on Saturday evening. Instead, newly-elected Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) will fill that role.

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