Limbaugh Rallies Conservatives to Fight Democrats, Find 'Right Candidate'

On the conference's third and final day, the conservative talk radio host was the headliner, and the crowd greeted him with an immense ovation.

"Ladies and gentleman, this is my first ever address to the nation," Limbaugh joked, noting that FOX News and C-SPAN were broadcasting the speech live.

Limbaugh then spent his first 15 minutes giving an impassioned summary of what it means to be a conservative before turning the focus to the movement's recent electoral record.

"We can take this country back. All we need is to nominate the right candidate," he said.

It may have surprised some in attendance at the event to hear Limbaugh praising President Obama -- at least at first.

Despite mocking Obama's regular use of a teleprompter, Limbaugh called the president "one of the most gifted politicians, one of the most gifted men I have ever witnessed. He has extraordinary talent."

But, he added, "It just breaks my heart that he has not used that extraordinary talent and gift to motivate and inspire the American people to be the best that they can be. He's doing just the opposite."

Limbaugh didn't hold back for most of the rest of his speech in skewering liberals, Democrats and the new president on a wide ranges of issues, including Obama's massively costly stimulus package and budget plan.

"It's not new. It's not change. And it's not hope," he said.

Obama is still in the "honeymoon phase," Limbaugh said, but conservatives shouldn't get discouraged.

"We are not quitting. We are not giving up," he said. "The country is too important."