Presidency 5 may be a bust, but CPAC event will have it all

And Tuesday morning, the American Conservative Union confirmed that Ron Paul will be part of the festivities. At CPAC events in Washington in recent years, he's been a huge favorite.


“A previous winner of CPAC presidential straw polls, Ron Paul is a leading voice for adhering to a limited constitutional government. His consistent voting record and unwavering commitment to his principles have earned Congressman Paul a strong and loyal grassroots base,” said ACU Chairman Al Cardenas. “The ACU is honored to host all of the major presidential candidates this September at our first-ever regional CPAC event."


CPAC should be a Lollapalooza for GOP groupies, with Ann Coulter, William Kristol and Marco Rubio among the non-candidates expected to appear.

The St. Pete Times' Adam C. Smith writes Tuesday morning that Florida's equivalent to the Iowa Straw Poll is rather lacking in any heat, as it approaches in three weeks.

"Presidency 5" as the Republican Party of Florida has dubbed it, is supposedly the latest in a series of important straw polls in the Sunshine State that have been critical in deciding the nominee, though it's been 15 years since the last one was held, which might be one reason it's not being treated with all that much respect amongst the candidates.

But all of those candidates will be in Orlando the two days prior to the September 24 straw poll - on Thursday, September 22, for a Fox News debate, and Friday, the 23, when CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) holds a day long affair that will allow all of the candidates to address the audience.

And unlike the debate (or the previous ones), Florida GOP voters will get a chance to see a couple of the candidates who have been shut out of most of the action so far - including Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.

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