The hallways will be buzzing in a downtown Washington, D.C. hotel in coming days, as Republicans gather for the Conservative Political Action Conference here, amid hopes that November will mean a return to power for their party and their agenda in the nation's capital.

The gathering will not only focus on the momentum that is on the GOP side right now in terms of political energy, but also on some of the more conservative candidates who are hoping to knock off members of the Republican Establishment in coming months as well.

The top two names in that gathering today will be Marco Rubio of Florida and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona.

Rubio is battling Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in the Sunshine State.

Hayworth is trying to be the conservative who defeats Sen. John McCain in the Arizona U.S. Senate Primary.

While Hayworth is no stranger to the Washington scene, Rubio is not a familiar face here in the D.C. area, but he has become more and more of the darling candidate for conservatives both in Florida and around the nation.

Introducing Rubio will be Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who was the first lawmaker to endorse Rubio, at a time when fellow Republicans were urging him to run for a different office and not cause trouble for Gov. Crist.

Rubio was late to that endorsement announcement in June of 2009, where just a handful of reporters (and DeMint) waited for him in the Senate Russell Park, across the street from the Capitol.

The former Florida state legislator could have been anybody visiting Washington, D.C. that day - but today will be much different.

Instead of a few reporters, there will be a jammed ballroom cheering Rubio on.

With all the momentum that Republicans have now, CPAC will be jumping in 2010.