For CPAC 2014 It’s Out With The Old And In With Rand Paul And Marco Rubio

Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida are the early CPAC 2014 headliners, suggesting conservative activists will focus on new, fresh faces this year, according to Conservative Political Action Conference.

The conservative activists’ annual gathering is a popularity contest for the Republican Party’s likely presidential candidates, and with Christie in doubt, conservatives are looking for an opportunity to make their move.

The Iowa caucus is 2 years away, and candidates who decide to run with start to launch campaigns 6 months prior.

“This presidential cycle for Republicans starts earlier than ever, in part because it’s the first time in a while we have an open seat without a leading candidate who has run before,” said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union. “We’re almost off and running, and CPAC is the beginning of that journey.”

This year is set to be a forced passing of the torch, with new up-and-coming GOP stars seeing their chance to break the stranglehold on the party, and begin to build a larger constituency. Last year, Sen. Rand Paul won the CPAC 2013 straw poll, while Rubio came in a close second.

Notably, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio were the only speakers CPAC announced Thursday, but many more are sure to come, particularly Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, and Rick Santorum.

To be sure, Chris Christie was shunned by CPAC last year for cozying up to President Obama after superstore Sandy, and it is unclear whether Wisconsin Rep. and former VP candidate Paul Ryan will receive similar treatment during CPAC 2014 because of his stance on the budget deal and immigration.

CPAC 2013 attracted more than 10,000 activists, and Cardenas said registration is running ahead for the March 6-8 convention at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland.

Both Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have argued the need to stay principled, while working harder to expand voter attraction to the party, notably Paul who has been visiting black communities with proposals to increase economic opportunity, decrease drug offense sentences and inner-city school reform.

Sen. Marco Rubio has made similar efforts to reach out to Hispanic voters, whom of which supported his senatorial campaign in 2010 by a wide margin.