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President TrumpDonald John TrumpAs Biden surges, GOP Ukraine probe moves to the forefront Republicans, rooting for Sanders, see Biden wins as setback Trump says Biden Ukraine dealings will be a 'major' campaign issue MORE faces more than nine months left in office before voters head to the pollsto decide on his reelection,but the early dynamics of the race to succeed him are already on display.

Several prominent Republicans who have been floated aspotential 2024 candidates took the stage at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., making appearances at the confab to boost Trump while keeping up their own profiles.

While the potential for a second Trump term looms large, Republicans have already started buzzing about who may run toreplacehim,such as Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoCarson on coronavirus: Task force is not 'sugarcoating' messaging Melania Trump at State award ceremony: I'm 'proud of what this country continues to do for women' House Republicans sound the alarm on Taliban deal MORE, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki HaleyNimrata (Nikki) HaleyThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden riding wave of momentum after stunning Super Tuesday Nikki Haley expected to endorse Loeffler in Senate race CNN's Begala: Trump will 'dump Pence' for Haley on day of Democratic nominee's acceptance speech MORE and Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzHegar advances to Democratic runoff in Texas Senate race Texas lawmakers call for investigation into CDC's handling of released coronavirus patient in San Antonio Klobuchar, O'Rourke endorse Biden at Dallas rally MORE (R-Texas).

Speaking at the annual gathering is viewed as a key step for any potential GOP presidential hopeful,with Republicans this week presenting themselves tothousands of activists amid speculationover their political futures post-Trump.

"CPAC gives prospective candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to the some of the most active and influential conservatives throughout the country," Sean SpicerSean Michael SpicerSean Spicer to launch 'Spicer & Co.' on Newsmax TV Tuesday night Republicans give 2024 tryouts at CPAC Hillicon Valley Presented by Facebook FCC fines mobile carriers 0M for selling user data | Twitter verified fake 2020 candidate | Dems press DHS to complete election security report | Reddit chief calls TikTok spyware MORE, the former White House communications director, told The Hill.

Pompeo used his Friday speech tolist offthe administration's accomplishments, including the elimination of several high-profile terrorists, but also cast his tenure as secretary of State as one focused on tackling issues rather than hobnobbing with international leaders.

Im not in it for the fancy dinners in Paris or Switzerland or Vienna. Ive only been to those places twice, Pompeo said during his speech, casting his tenure as secretary of State as one that has shirked traditional hobnobbing with foreign leaders.

Id rather go be with my team in tough places, places that present hardship to the young men and women who are serving as diplomats all across the world, he said.

Pompeo, whodrew headlineswhen organizers announced he would speakto an influential conservative group in theearly voting state of Iowa next month, has opted to stay in Trump's Cabinet instead of run for Senate in his home state of Kansas.

He was introduced at CPAC on Friday byhis wife, who spoke in personal termsabouther husband's time working at a Baskin-Robbins in high school andcoming from a family with a "mean" Italian meatball recipe details aimed at showing Pompeo's softer side even as the secretary of State touted hisrole as the United States' top diplomat.

"Wherever I go, working for President Trump, people tug on my sleeve. They want to meet me. They want to meet not because Im Mike from Kansas but because I represent the greatest country in the history of civilization," he said to raucous applause and chants of "USA."

Pence used his speech at the gathering to voice confidence in the administration's efforts to combat the coronavirus which Trump tapped him to oversee this week and ticked off a list of accomplishments under the Trump administration, includingkilling several terrorists.

The vice president, who has crisscrossed the country to pitch various Trump policies, has alsoraised eyebrows with several trips in the past year to the crucial primary state of South Carolina. He went after Democrats in his CPAC speech, arguing thattheir party was lurching to the left with presidential front-runner Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersRepublicans, rooting for Sanders, see Biden wins as setback Sanders says Biden winning African American support by 'running with his ties to Obama' Sanders condemns his supporters' 'ugly, personal attacks' against Warren MORE (I-Vt.)leading the way.

Todays Democratic Party has been taken over by radical leftists who want higher taxes, open borders and late-term abortion, Pence said during his address on Thursday. There are no moderates in this Democratic field. Every other one of the Democrats running for president embraces Bernies democratic socialism.

Haley urged CPAC attendees to fight for capitalism during her speech and was mobbed when walking into the crowd. The former United Nations ambassador has given a spree of speeches since her departure from the Trump administration and this month launched a policy group that will focus on issues such as border security and socialism.

Cruz, meanwhile, took the opportunity to record a live taping of his podcast The Verdict, with the Texas Republican making a pitch to blue-collar voters who helpedelect Trump in 2016.

Today Democrats are the party of Hollywood celebrities and Silicon Valley billionaires and Wall Street titans. They sip their lattes and they look down on working-class Americans, he said. And on the other hand, working men and women, the working men and women here, union members, blue-collar union members used to form the heart of the Democratic Party. FDR Democrats who became Reagan Democrats and right now today theyre Trump Democrats.

A handful of otherGOP figures who have been floated as potential2024 candidates made appearances at CPAC this year, includingDonald Trump Jr. and Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyGOP senator to try to censure Schumer over SCOTUS remark Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers seek 5G rivals to Huawei | Amazon, eBay grilled over online counterfeits | Judge tosses Gabbard lawsuit against Google | GOP senator introduces bill banning TikTok on government devices GOP senator to offer bill banning TikTok on government devices MORE (R-Mo.).

Trump Jr. and Hawley, two conservative firebrands who have emerged as favorites of the GOP base, appeared onstage together at a panel railing at social media giantssuch as Facebook and Twitter for allegedly suppressing conservative accounts.

Several politicians who have later gone on to launch White House bids have been featured at CPAC, given its platform in front of thousands of faithful grassroots activists.

The CPAC tradition of fueling presidential bidsgoes back to former President Reagan. Reagan, then the governor of California, made an appearance at the conference in 1974 six years before hebecame president.

Trumphimself madeappearances at the gathering starting in 2011, using his speeches to burnish his conservativebona fides before ultimately going on to win the GOP nomination and the presidency in 2016.

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Republicans give 2024 tryouts at CPAC | TheHill - The Hill