Potential Republican presidential candidates, including polarizing former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, gathered Saturday at a conservative summit billed as a preview of 2016 in the early state of Iowa.

Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, former Govs. Rick Perry of Texas and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and many others turned the Iowa Freedom Forum into the unofficial launch of the next campaign for the Iowa caucuses. More than 1,000 religious conservatives met at a refurbished theater to hear them pitch their policies and their values.

Palin, who has only hinted at a run for president, took her usual shots at the "left in Hollywood," the media, President Obama and early Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton.

"It's going to take more than a village to beat Hillary," she said a speech that seemed almost off the cuff. "I'm ready for Hillary. Are you coming?

Christie may have had the most to gain - or lose - from appearing at the forum. Considered a moderate in some GOP circles and a party establishment choice in others, the New Jersey governor tried to connect with grass-roots conservative activists by assuring them that trust is more important than total agreement.

"If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I'll give you a suggestion: Go home and look in the mirror. You are the only person you agree with 100 percent of the time," he said. "You'll always know who I am, you'll always know what I believe and you'll always know where I stand."

To back up his conservative credentials, Christie proclaimed his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights. He also rejected the idea that Republicans could be competitive in traditionally Democratic states by abandoning opposition to abortion rights. "And I'm living proof," he said.

In his remarks, Cruz cited the Bible as he challenged caucus participants to back only presidential candidates with a proven conservative track record. "You know what," he said, "talk is cheap. The word tells us you shall know them by their fruits ... Look every candidate in the eye and say `Don't talk, show me.'"

Perry also pointed to the end of the Obama administration: "I got a feeling that after six years of disappointment, of mediocrity and decline, a slow course correction is not what voters are going to be looking for in 2016."

Walker promoted his administration's enactment of voter identification, concealed carry handgun and abortion restriction legislation - all red-meat issues to the conservative audience. For many Republicans, he is best known for beating back a recall effort and then winning re-election.

"You see, I think that sends a powerful message to Republicans in Washington and around the country that if you're not afraid to go big and go bold you can actually get results," Walker said.

Missing were two possible candidates considered leading contenders for the nomination: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the party's 2012 nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Former candidate and political activist Donald Trump let it be known that he didn't think much of the pair. "You can't have Romney. He choked," Trump said. "You can't have Bush. The last thing we need is another Bush."

In addition to Bush and Romney, also absent from the lineup were Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida.

Here were some additional comments from the hopefuls:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Cristie:

"If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I'll give you a suggestion: Go home and look in the mirror. You are the only person you agree with 100 percent of the time. ... You'll always know who I am, you'll always know what I believe and you'll always know where I stand."

Texas Sen. Tred Cruz:

"In a Republican primary every candidate is going to come in front of you and say I'm the most conservative guy that ever lived. Goshdarnit, whodidily, I'm conservative. You know what, talk is cheap. The word tells us you shall know them by their fruits ... Look every candidate in the eye and say `Don't talk, show me.' "

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker:

"I've won the race for governor three times in the last four years. Three times, mind you, in a state that hasn't gone Republican for president since I was in high school more than 30 years ago. How about that. You see, I think that sends a powerful message to Republicans in Washington and around the country that if you're not afraid to go big and go bold you can actually get results."

Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

"Hey, Iowa, can anyone stop Hillary? Let's borrow a phrase: 'Yes we can.' It starts here and it starts now."

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry:

"I got a feeling that after six years of disappointment, of mediocrity and decline, a slow course correction is not what voters are going to be looking for in 2016."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee:

"We don't need to spend the next two years beating each other up in the conservative tent. We need to tell America what's right with this country."

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.