Ten Republicans thinking about running for president in 2012 will take the stage today through Saturday to prove themselves before conservatives attending an annual conference and to participate in a straw poll.
More than 10,000 activists have registered for the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, which will serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the 2012 GOP presidential primaries.
David Bossie of the conservative Citizens United group told the Associated Press that the potential GOP field has lots in common with each other, starting with their conservative ideology and position on issues.
"They're all virtually identical on the big global issues that conservatives care about. They're all pro-life. They're all for smaller government. They are all for lower taxes. They're all for a strong national security. They're all pro-military," Bossie said.
There are 15 people on the CPAC straw poll ballot, beginning with Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and ending with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Five people -- including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and ex-Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee -- are on the ballot but not speaking.
Governors -- current or former -- dominate the ballot: Besides Huckabee and Palin, they are Haley Barbour (Mississippi), Chris Christie (New Jersey), Mitch Daniels (Indiana), Jon Huntsman (Utah), Gary Johnson (New Mexico), Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota) and Mitt Romney (Massachusetts).
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and ex-Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum join Bachmann and Thune as the potential GOP presidential hopefuls on the list with experience in Congress.
And rounding out the CPAC straw ballot is Herman Cain, a former CEO of Godfather's Pizza and a talk radio host.
But will the straw vote carry weight with GOP primary voters, who will be looking for a candidate who can defeat President Obama? That remains to be seen.
The last two straw poll winners -- Paul in 2010 and Romney in 2009 -- didn't have much success with GOP primary voters in 2008 when Arizona Sen. John McCain became the party's presidential nominee.
By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY