CPAC 2012

Conservative politicians and opinion leaders speak to activists at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

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Feb. 11, 2012

Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and the 2008 vice presidential candidate, speaks to a cheering crowd on the final day of the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks to the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington. She dismissed calls for a quick end to the Republican presidential nominating contest. “In America, we believe that competition strengthens us. Competition elevates our game,” she said.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin addressed the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington. She said the party’s eventual presidential candidate “must be someone who can instinctively turn right to constitutional conservative principles. It’s too late in the game to teach it or to spin it at this point. It’s either there or it isn’t.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, got a warm reception before her address on the final day of the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, gets a hug at the CPAC conference.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Members attending the CPAC conference squeeze in close to get a photo of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Enthusiastic attendees reach out to greet former Alaska governor Sarah Palin at the CPAC conference.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Student volunteer Gabriel Pereira, 17, gives out campaign signs for former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum in the hallways of the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

A Sarah Palin supporter, Thomas Schmidt of Los Angeles, blogs on the final day of CPAC in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Acting as campaign ambassadors for their mother, South Carolina Republican congressional candidate Renee Culler, from left, Layla, Alexandra and Sophia Culler shake hands with attendees at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 11, 2012

Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, left, presents a membership card to Gov. Rick Scott of Florida as he is introduced to address activists at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 11, 2012

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana addresses activists at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 11, 2012

Reading the words of Thomas Jefferson, Daniel Hannan, a member of the European Parliament who represents southeast England for the Conservative Party, addresses activists at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 11, 2012

Women wait in line in hope of having their numbers drawn to attend a luncheon with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin at CPAC.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 11, 2012

A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney hands out campaign stickers at CPAC. Romney won a straw poll of attendees.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 11, 2012

Volunteers promote Republican presidential hopefuls as America's political right gathers at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 10, 2012

Mitt Romney addresses an audience at CPAC.

Jim Bourg / Reuters

Feb. 10, 2012

An overflow audience, including Hannah Marrs, center, watches Romney deliver a speech on a television screen at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

An overflow audience watches Romney deliver a speech on a television screen at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Attendees give Romney a standing ovation as he delivers remarks at CPAC.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Feb. 10, 2012

Romney, center, greets supporters after delivering remarks at CPAC.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Feb. 10, 2012

From left to right: Jen Smith and Shannon McGuigan move a cutout of Republican presidential candidate and former senator Rick Santorum to a meet-and-greet event at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee delivers remarks at CPAC.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Feb. 10, 2012

Mark Rogers of Otego, N.Y., listens as former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee speaks at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 10, 2012

Huckabee, left, leaves the stage after speaking to the CPAC crowd.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Callista Gingrich introduces her husband, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, to the audience at CPAC.

Win McNamee / GETTY IMAGES

Feb. 10, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich is kissed by his wife, Callista, before speaking at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 10, 2012

Gingrich peaks to audience members at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Audience members listens to presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's speech at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Ann Coulter gestures while speaking at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 10, 2012

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a board member of the American Conservative Union and vice chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, addresses an audience at CPAC.

Jim Bourg / Reuters

Feb. 10, 2012

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell delivers remarks at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is surrounded by his family as he speaks at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Members of the audience including Barbara Dodge, left, Theresa Vaughn and Carol Crosbyook look on as Santorum addresses them at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) speaks at CPAC.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Feb. 10, 2012

Romney masks worn by Occupy protesters and other special-interest groups are seen as the groups stage a protest in front of the Marriott Wardman, where CPAC is being held.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Occupy protesters and other special-interest groups, including this group from New York dressed as "Tax Dodgers," stage a protest in front of the Marriott Wardman hotel, where CPAC is being held.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Occupy protesters and other special-interest groups block the driveway as they stage a protest in front of the Marriott Wardman, where CPAC is being held.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Occupy protesters sit in the middle of the street with a coffin and shout slogans as they and other special-interest groups stage a protest in front of the Marriott Wardman hotel, where CPAC is being held.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Protesters from the Occupy movement and labor unions gather with an inflatable “fat cat” outside CPAC before an address by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 10, 2012

John Butler, foreground left, of Our DC, marches with Occupy protesters and other special-interest groups up the driveway of the Marriott Wardman hotel as they protest CPAC.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

Michael "Big Gov" Marsocci, center, and Andre "Crony Capitolism" Grillon, right, take a picture with fans at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

One of the original tea party members, Pastor William Temple, sits in his King George soldier period costume to await the start of the second day of the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington, D.C.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2012

One of the original tea party members, Pastor William Temple, sits in his King George soldier period costume to await the start of the second day of the 39th Annual CPAC Conference in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Former presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry prepares to address CPAC attendees.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Jessie Jenkins, left, Bethany Green, and Elena Nevarez clap for Rick Perry during his CPAC speech.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) delivers remarks during CPAC.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Feb. 9, 2012

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) addresses an audience at CPAC.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 9, 2012

Actor Kirk Cameron waits backstage to be introduced at CPAC.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Feb. 9, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), a former GOP presidential hopeful, waves to supporters after addressing an audience at CPAC. Thousands of conservative activists are attending the annual gathering in the nation's capital.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Feb. 9, 2012

Student Rob Harrelson, center, cheers for Herman Cain at CPAC

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Bachmann speaks to CPAC attendees.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) addresses an audience at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Mary Ann Taylor proudly wears a cookie-cutter elephant hat while listening to Herman Cain's speech.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivers remarks at CPAC.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Feb. 9, 2012

Student David Grider along with other conservatives listen to CPAC speakers.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

A child plays with a ball on a Rick Santorum campaign sign at CPAC

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

People attend the annual CPAC conference in Washington.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, left, better known as Joe the Plumber, speaks to attendees at CPAC. Wurzelbacher is running as a Republican candidate for an Ohio congressional seat.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 9, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), left, gives a radio interview at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Feb. 9, 2012

Shannon McGuigan folds sweater vests at a booth for Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum at CPAC.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 9, 2012

Drawings of the Republican presidential candidates, from left to right, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, are displayed at a booth at CPAC.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 9, 2012

Buttons reading “Repeal Obamacare” are displayed at CPAC.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Feb. 9, 2012

An attendee holds an NRA 2012 campaign sticker at CPAC.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

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