Rand Paul, Scott Walker - What You Missed at CPAC

OXON HILL, Md. – Although the calendar reads 2015, the 2016 presidential race is clearly underway. At least it was at Maryland's National Harbor where this year's annual gathering of conservatives known as CPAC kicked off.

Among the big names making their way to the stage were Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and many more.

Sen. Paul won this weekend's presidential straw poll. But Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker also came in strong, taking second place, and has made points with conservatives by taking on unions in his state.

"The president measures success by the people who are dependent on government," Walker told the CPAC audience. "We should measure success by how many people are no longer dependent on government."

In a one-on-one interview, CBN News asked the governor about a likely White House run.

"You hear the chants, 'Run, Scott, run.' What's the reaction inside of you when you hear that?" CBN News' David Brody asked Walker.

"Well it's humbling. I appreciate the fact that people noticed what we've done," he replied. "They are hungry for authentic leadership, that people will tell them what they're going to do, straight talk as you just said. But don't just fight for it, actually deliver on it and win."

There are a lot of big storylines at CPAC. One of the biggest centers on Jeb Bush. It looks like he's going to run for president, but he supports controversial policies like Common Core educational standards and comprehensive immigration reform.

Both cheers and boos greeted him as he came out, and a small number even walked out of the room.

For Bush, this became an opportunity to explain himself to a somewhat skeptical base, especially on immigration.

"The simple fact is there is no plan to deport 11 million people," he told the crowd.

"We should give them a path to legal status where they work, where they don't receive government benefits, where they don't break the law, where they learn English, and where they make a contribution to our society. That's what we need to be focused on," he said.

And what about a third Bush running for president?

"I think he's out of touch," CPAC attendee Tom O'Brien told CBN News.

"Obviously, when you grow up in a family like that where your father is the president, your brother is the president…you get out of touch. They are on a different echelon from everyday people like you and I," he said.

But according to attendee Maricruz MaGowen, "He has the perfect balance of experience, age, outlook, he is very much liked in the Hispanic community. I am Hispanic so I have a particular likeness about that."

But Paul McKinley, another attendee, had a different take on the matter.

"I don't think it's going to go that way. We either go with the Hillary's and Billary's' or we're back in the Bushes. I don't think it's going to go that way. I think there are going to be some upsets and surprises in this election," he said.

Upsets and surprises could be commonplace in one of the largest Republican lineups ever seen by the party's faithful.