Wake Up Mackinac Island! This tranquil island with its clippety-clop of horse hooves (no cars allowed on Mackinac!), Victorian cottages, dreamy fudge and gorgeous Lake Huron vistas will be at the epicenter of national politics September 23-25 for the Republican Leadership Conference. GOP frontrunners Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be on the island to deliver addresses.

The Biennial Republican Leadership Conference is not new to Mackinac Island. Republican dignitaries have been visiting the island for this short conference since 1953. In recent years, Romney has come (before), so has President George H. W. Bush, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain. Given the sharp exchanges between Perry and Romney at the recent CNN Republican debate, this conference promises to be in the eye of national politics.

Stay posted: Elizabeth (Lissa) Edwards, Managing Editor of MyNorth.com will be covering the Mackinac Island Conference.