WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will not be speaking at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, but she has accepted an invitation to speak at a higher profile event that could have implications for the 2012 presidential race.
Palin will speak at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, a major gathering of Republican officials, donors and activists from 14 southern states, organizers announced Thursday.
"I'm looking forward to addressing conservative activists from across the south at the 2010 Southern Republican Leadership Conference," Palin said in a statement. "This is a great opportunity to listen and speak to those who are helping to set the direction of our party."
A Palin confidante said the governor is not being paid to speak at the event.
Political watchers will be paying close attention, and not just because several potential presidential candidates are expected to attend. The SRLC - "the most prominent Republican event outside of a Republican National Convention," the organization boasts - also conducts a presidential straw poll.
The straw poll has had a mixed record of predicting future electoral success. George W. Bush, who was then governor of Texas, won the poll in 1998, two years before his presidential bid. But former Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist, who never mounted a presidential bid, took first place at the 2006 SRLC.
"We're excited to have Governor Palin join us in New Orleans. She represents the future of the Republican Party and will be a huge draw for conservative activists from across the country," SRLC Director Charlie Davis said in an accompanying statement.
From CNN Politics
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Of course she is going to speak at the SRLC conference – that's her base – the good ol' south. Thank God the south is not indicative of what this country wants.
If Palin represents the future of the Republican party, the Democrats have nothing to worry about. Seriously, keep her on for her celebrity factor along with guys like Chuck Norris, but if the GOP is serious about taking back the White House in a fair fight, they need to stop wasting their time with her and start grooming a proper heir presumptive, male or female.
Well la di da!
who cares not i!
If she is the Future of the republican party, May the GOP RIP.
You mean some actually pulled her string...?
Oboy,, here we go again..
Considering how many times she's backed out of speaking engagements, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were the SRLC.
Last years news. Sarah who?
Oh Goodie, a Sarah Palin story to get the hate flowing.
Nice job CNN, really. I guess all the disparaging comments about John McCain and his service to our country wasn't enough.
Get over it libs. Obama may have "won", but Palin is here to stay. Get used to it.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make this dimwit your candidate in 2012
SARAHCUDA on the roll.
oh no, not again!
She'll be the biggest disaster to hit New orleans since Katrina!
"Let them eat cake"
Southern repub governors, northern repug governors, easterr and then western repug governors, sounds like a broken and divided system. Better get Mike Steele to put the pieces together again.
Why would anyone want a Sarah as President when she quits when the going gets touch!!!
Palin is the only one speaking any common sense these days. So far, Obama has not kept any of his promises. SHAME ON HIM!!!!
Sarah Palin represents the quintessential American - patriotic, good-hearted, commonsensical, and God-fearing.
Because the liberal progressives have infested every aspect of our country - from our schools all the way to The White House - the American Dream is being threatened with extinction.
Conservatives like Sara Palin are our only hope for reviving freedom and liberty - and taking back our country.
I guess they needed some "light" entertainment.
Will she be signing copies of her book "Quitting for Dummies"? It is important for the republiCONS to realize that their only hope is this dim bulb has been. Whoops, pardon me, she is a never was.
Some where at the corner of any street someone with a red or black or green or whatever color jacket is going to walk by. Grab that person and you have just found someone who is just as qualified as Palin.
Can we just move on because even if you find good canidates–we still got to fix this broken political systems that shallow up good ideas.
I wouldn't be so smug to dismiss the South, in fact, I think the South is/will have a lot more power in further decision making in the good ole USA
Love how the republicons keep telling us she is not their spokesperson.
The republiCON party IS the party of Palin and Limbaugh. They are their voice and their "moral" compass.
The republicons need to stop trying to pretend this is not true. There is no more "IF" she is the leader, she IS! Rebuplicons nation-wide, it is time to embrace your new leaders!!!!
Enjoy! Finally the end of the republicons is at hand!
And this is news because?...