While many stories regarding Republican Bob Turner's upset in the special election for Rep. Anthony Weiner's New York 9th Congressional district seat will attempt to lay blame on President Obama for the loss, the greater lesson which should be gleaned by conservatives everywhere is that voters are hungry for our message.

Case in point, this interesting factoid from MSNBC:

In the last week before the election, outside Democratic groups had spent nearly $700,000 boosting Weprin, while Republican and conservative groups spent $53,000 to support Turner, a 13-to-1 Democratic advantage.

Despite the efforts of RNC chair Reince Priebus to raise funds nationally for Turner in the last week of this campaign, the message was the kingmaker where Democrats tried to throw money instead.

Do not get me wrong. Money is certainly vital to the organization behind our conservatives up and down ballot, but championing our shared values of limited government and lower taxes among our friends and neighbors is crucial.

Having good folks to run for races large and small, in territories both red and blue is also important, now more than ever.

Consider New York's 9th Congressional district, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens, should have been an easy Democratic hold if ever there was one. If Mr. Turner could win here, with a tiny fraction of what the incumbent party spends in their "safe" districts, conservatives can win anywhere.

If you have been considering running for office, if you have even entertained the notion for a second, now is the hour and today is the day: Stand up for our conservative values and run.

Check out candidate qualifications with your Secretary of State or state elections clerk, or reach out to your local Republican, Libertarian or other conservative political parties for support.

With small victories like Turner's as proof, 2012 can be a bellwether year for conservative values and turning back the clock on liberalism in America.

--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM

Welcome to About.com's coverage of the 2011 CNN Tea Party presidential debate, hosted  at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida on September 12, 2011.

Participants of the debate include Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.); pundit Herman Cain; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; former Ambassador and Gov. Jon Huntsman (R-Utah); Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas); Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas); former Gov. Mitt Romney; and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.).

The debate was moderated by Wolf Blitzer, host of CNN's The Situation Room.

The Debate's Hot Topics:

• Social Security
• Jobs and the Economy
• The Federal Reserve
• Rick Perry and the HPV Vaccine
• Illegal Immigration and Border Security

--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM

Santorum (9:27 p.m. EST) "I am the son of an Italian immigrant. I believe immigration is the important lifeblood of this country. Unlike Gov. Perry, I believe we need to build more fence," he said. "I think it is very important we explain immigration...is something we must do legally."

Perry (9:28 p.m.) "There are nearly 1200 miles between Texas and Mexica and our federal government has been an abject failure in securing our border. Strategic fencing has an absolute role to play," Perry said, "but the idea to build a wall from Brownsville to El Paso to Tijuana" is not possible.

Perry said aviation and technology assets are necessary to secure the border, but "we need the federal government to do its constitutional duty to protect this border."

Santorum (9:30 p.m.): Gov. Perry's mandate to give in-state tuition is questionable.

Perry (9:31 p.m.): "In the state of Texas, if you have been in the state for 3 years or more, if you are working towards your college degree and you are working and pursuing citizenship, you pay in-state tuition. It doesn't matter how your last name sounds. I am proud to have those individuals becoming contributing parts of our citizenship."

Bachmann (9:32 p.m.): "I do not think the American way is to give taxpayer-subsidized tuition to those who are not here legally." Bachmann also said she would support making English the national language.

Perry (9:33 p.m.), in response to Bachmann claiming Perry supports the DREAM Act: "I am not for DREAM Act that is supported in Washington D.C., because that is amnesty."

Huntsman (9:33 p.m.): Called Perry's comments about the federal government not defending its borders "treasonous," and defended a decision he made as Utah governor to allow illegal immigrants to drive in that state as "a pragmatic, local government fix."

Romney (9:34 p.m.): "I have problems with both [Huntsman and Perry's decisions]. The question was about courting Latino voters, and I think we should tell them the truth. They or their ancestors did not come here for a handout, but came here for opportunity."

Romney said, in terms of illegal immigration, "we build a fence and, of course, we do not give them in-state tuition." As Massachusetts governor, Romney said he sought authorization for his state police to enforce immigration law.

--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM

Paul (9:06 p.m.), on whether he would use executive orders: "Executive orders have been grossly abused by all administrators for many years, but some executive orders are legal. But, the executive order should never be used to legislate."

Perry (9:07 p.m.), on whether HPV vaccine issue in Texas was a mistake: "It was, and indeed, if I had to do it over again, I would have done it differently. I would have gone to the state legislature. What was driving me was to work to save lives. Cervical cancer is a horrible way to die. Parental rights are very important in the state of Texas, but on that particular issue, I made a mistake by not going to legislature first," he said.

Pointed to Congressman Paul, Perry then quipped, "I will use an executive order to get as much of Obamacare off the table on day one."

Bachmann (9:08 p.m.), on Perry's HPV vaccine decision: "To have innocent little 12-year-old girls to have an injection is just flat out wrong. It is a violation of a liberty interest. Little girls who have a  reaction to this drug do not get a do-over."

Perry (9:10 p.m.), on whether the HPV vaccine decision was a mandate: "No, [Wolf Blitzer], it was very clear that it had an opt-out. At the end of the day, [Bachmann] may criticize me about the way I went about it, but at the end of the day, I am always going to err on the side of life."

Bachmann (9:11 p.m.): "In midst of this executive order, a drug company made millions off this mandate," she said, alleging Perry's former chief of staff was a lobbyist for drug maker Merck, who gave the Perry gubernatorial campaign a $5,000 campaign contribution. "This is just flat out wrong. Was this about life or was it about millions of dollars for this drug company?"

Perry (9:12 p.m.): "If you are saying I can be bought for $5,000, I am offended."

Santorum (9:13 p.m.): "There is no government puprose served for having little girls innoculated. This is big government run amok. It is bad policy and it should not have been done."

--Brandon De Hoyos, Guide to IM