We know for sure Chris Christie won’t borrow that line when he addresses the conference, a year after he was not even invited. But the New Jersey governor does face a similar challenge convincing conservatives he is one of them. Tough media scrutiny over so-called “Bridgegate” could help him with a group that frequently derides what CPAC favorite Sarah Palin calls the “Lamestream Media.”

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul will try to advance his presidential ambitions at a forum that was usually welcoming to his father, former Congressman Ron Paul.

At the tea party gathering on Thursday, Paul continued what I call his “patchwork politics” by trying to build a coalition that includes his dad’s libertarian base and the senator’s tea party support – and more.

“In order for us to be a bigger party, we have to reach out to more people, not just those of us here,” Paul said. “It has to be a bigger party: it has to be a bigger movement.”