Some of the nation's leading conservatives are gathering in Washington for what could be an audition for their next presidential candidate.

The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, is the unofficial start of the Republican nomination process. About a dozen potential candidates will make their case at the three-day event.

And billionaire businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump says he may join them.

"I will tell you the reason I am thinking about (running for president) is that the United States has become a whipping post for the rest of the world," Trump said. "The world is treating us without respect. They are not treating us properly."

Trump said he will decide by June if he will enter the race for the GOP nomination.

In 2007, CPAC selected Mitt Romney as the likely candidate. Romney went on to lose the nomination to Sen. John McCain.

CPAC attendees will have a straw poll Saturday night to make their presidential choice.

*Originally aired on Feb. 11, 2011.