The annual PA Leadership Conference - a weekend gathering for the state's conservative activists - is underway in Harrisburg starting today.

Two years ago, it was a spot for Pat Toomey to rally the conservative base to support his almost-official U.S. Senate bid. And last year it was the event where now-Gov. Tom Corbett refered to the Constitution as a "living document" - a remark that his conservative opponent, state Rep. Sam Rohrer, made sure that the GOP base heard.

Corbett is absent from this year's agenda, presumably spending a weekend at home in Shaler after his Allegheny County events this week. Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, however, will be standing in to represent the new administration.

And while the two candidates - Harrisburg attorney Marc Scaringi and tea partier Laureen Cummings - that have said they will challenge U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in 2012 aren't scheduled to speak, one potential contender is.

State Senate Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre, will be addressing the crowd at 3 p.m. today. It's typically a gathering that feeds on talk of cutting spending and taxes, on which the budget negotiator will have plenty to offer. And it's also a group that Corman will need to at least get to know if he makes his bid a reality.