Bluey Blog - Official Blog of Robert B. Bluey

Most Memorable CPAC Ever?

The 2008 version of CPAC concluded earlier today with a straw poll that was fitting for perhaps the most memorable conference in CPAC’s 35-year history. Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the race at the Omni Shoreham on Thursday, bested John McCain, 35% to 34%.

I’ve been going to CPAC since 2003 when I was working as a reporter for Cybercast News Service. I continued in that role at Human Events, and for the past two years sat on bloggers’ row in my capacity at The Heritage Foundation. Over the years, I’ve heard countless speeches, spent hours networking and more recently became part of the official program. I moderated a panel on new media today and presented the Blogger of the Year Award yesterday afternoon.

This year’s CPAC will forever stand out in my mind as one of the best — and quite possibly the most memorable ever. The timing of the conference was perfect. Clearly, the highlight of the three-day conference was Romney’s decision to bow out of the presidential race. The former Massachusetts governor gave the best speech of his campaign on Thursday, saving his announcement for the very end. It left the crowd in disbelief.

Only a few hours later, the likely Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, took the stage to a packed house. The crowd was so excited to hear McCain’s message that the room had to be sealed off because it was a fire hazard.

A day later all eyes were on Ann Coulter, whose unofficial CPAC speech was so anticipated that Townhall decided to broadcast it live. For the conservative bloggers who pounced on Coulter last year for her quip about John Edwards, there was widespread disappointment she didn’t push the envelope again this year. Nonetheless, it was amazing to watch the hysteria.

And finally, today featured the other Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, who barely managed to beat Ron Paul in the CPAC straw poll. Contrast Huckabee with today’s other big speaker, Newt Gingrich, and it became clear that Gingrich should have entered the race last fall. On my way in today, a couple of conservatives I met on the street told me they drove in from Latrobe, Pa., early this morning just to catch a glimpse of Gingrich.

Everyone will take away something different from this year’s CPAC, but I was thrilled to be a part of it. Congratulations to David Keene, Lisa De Pasquale, Danielle Sturgis and the others who made it a success.