U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and three Republican presidential candidates -- Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum -- are scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
Bachmann, who represents Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District, and political commentator Ann Coulter will participate in a panel discussion, "Fire from the Heartland: The Awakening of the Conservative Woman" at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Walker is the featured speaker at Friday night's Ronald Reagan banquet.
Prior to Tuesday, political observers were billing the conference as an opportunity for the Republican Party to focus its attention on defeating President Barack Obama. But Santorum's sweep of GOP caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and Missouri's primary may put those plans on hold, with attendees looking to further scrutinize the remaining Republican candidates – Gingrich, Romney, Santorum and Ron Paul, who finished second in the Minnesota caucuses.
The conference begins Thursday and ends Sunday with a speech by former Alaska Gov. and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Other scheduled speakers include former presidential candidates Herman Cain and Rick Perry.
