Republicans subtly audition for 2016 election

OXON HILL, Md. — OXON HILL, Md. Only months after President Barack Obama's re-election, an annual gathering of conservatives served as an audition for Republicans looking to court conservative activists and raise their profile ahead of what could be a crowded Republican presidential field in 2016.

It may seem early, but the die-hard activists who attended the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference are already picking their favorites for 2016.

And conservative activists have given Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul a narrow win in a unscientific but symbolic presidential preference poll.

Paul won with 25 percent of the vote, just ahead of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 23 percent.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was third with 8 percent.

The victory offers little more than bragging rights for Paul, who is popular with the younger generation of libertarian-minded conservatives who packed the conference in suburban Washington.

Nearly 3,000 people participated in the online poll, and more than half were younger than 26.

Several high-profile Republicans have injected their prescriptions for the future of the wayward Republican Party, which suffered major losses in last November's election.

After telling The Associated Press that a presidential run is "an option," first-term Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker thrilled activists Saturday by declaring: "In America, we believe in the people and not in the government."

Rubio drew thunderous applause by proclaiming that the Republican Party doesn't need any new ideas: "There is an idea. The idea is called America, and it still works," he said in a speech aimed squarely at middle-class voters.

Paul called for a new direction in Republican politics: "The GOP of old has grown stale and moss-covered."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, perhaps the highest-profile establishment figure as the son and brother of presidents, pushed for a more tolerant party in a Friday night speech.

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