Old timers at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) are beaming today at what they say is a renaissance of sorts for the 36-year-old annual Washington event. Gathering this year for the next three days at the Marriott Wardman Hotel in northwest Washington, tens of thousands are expected, say CPAC officials, a 20 percent increase from last year’s confab.
“Some people are calling it the first CPAC of the Tea Party movement,” said Ian Walters, spokesman for the event. “Everyone here is totally energized, totally motivated, totally willing to hit the ground running.”
In recent times, the atmospherics were a bit more subdued, still stinging from big Republican losses in 2006 and the 2008 Presidential election. Longtime CPAC attendees say this year is different. There are more first-time students, more non-students, and a sense that 2010 will be their year.
“(CPAC) is definitely benefiting from the same passions” exhibited during the recent National Tea Party Convention, said Joel Mowbray, a frequent attendee and speaker representing the Leadership Institute.
As evidence, the cavernous ballroom was packed this morning for an opening keynote speech by former Florida State Rep. Marco Rubio, who is running against Gov. Charlie Crist for the Republican Primary for U.S Senate. His candidacy has taken on the mantle of the movement and has flourished as a result, observers say.
The media has certainly noticed. Lines for media/blogger check-in were at least 30 deep at times in the morning, the longest in this writer’s memory. “It’s obvious there is an intense interest in what is going on here” said Walters. “The world is interested in what is going on at CPAC.”