Sarah Palin to speak at major conservative event

After former Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, left her job as a contributor for Fox News, she said conservatives "can't just preach to the choir."

"I'm taking my own advice here as I free up opportunities to share more broadly the message of the beauty of freedom and the imperative of defending our republic and restoring this most exceptional nation," she said.

In one of her next high-profile appearances, however, Palin may be addressing one of the nation's most conservative annual events. The American Conservative Union announced today that Palin will be a featured speaker at CPAC 2013 - the 40th annual conservative political action conference - to be held March 14-16 at National Harbor, just outside of Washington, D.C.

The three-day event will feature several prominent conservatives, from both inside and outside the beltway. Confirmed speakers include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; former Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; NRA president David Keene; NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre; and several others. The ACU claims CPAC is the largest annual gathering of conservatives in the country.

The conference is best known for its annual GOP presidential nomination straw poll, which Mitt Romney won last year. Former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul won in 2010 and 2011.