Posted on 05/12/2011 10:18:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It has been a busy week in presidential politics. With Barack Obama gaining only a minimal boost from the slaying of Osama Bin Laden, it is now obvious to Republicans considering a run that he is vulnerable.
Republicans have a crowded field, but an impressive group of candidates. Here is our ranking of their prospects and the latest news.
We believe that if he chooses to run, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is the odds on favorite to win the Republican nomination. Huckabee has been quiet, but some impressive reports have surfaced.
First, it is reported that if he runs, Ronald Reagan's confident and 1984 campaign manager, Ed Rollins, has signed on as manager and chief strategist. Huckabee, who came in second to John McCain four years ago after winning the Iowa caucuses, will be well served by an experienced manager like Rollins. Rollins has eluded that he has a team of experienced people on standby for Governor Huckabee.
Also this week, the new website prayforhuckabee.com went online. On the website Governor Huckabee sounds more like a candidate saying, "When I look across America, I see a country looking for answers. The challenges facing our nation are monumental, and I see difficult days ahead. I am seeking God's will concerning the role He wants me to play in His plan for America."
Huckabee still has a standout organization in Iowa, but it gets thin as you move later in the primary field. If he doesn't move soon time will run out on the clock.
Next up is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. If Huckabee doesn't run, Romney goes to first position and is the next likeliest nominee. Romney, who has changed positions on gay marriage (once for, now against), abortion (once for, now against), spent the week changing his position on healthcare. As Governor, he signed a healthcare plan similar to Obamacare that is bankrupting the state government in the "Bay State."
Romney has again pulled a 180 degree turn writing in USA Today, "If I am elected president, I will issue on my first day in office an executive order paving the way for waivers from ObamaCare for all 50 states. Subsequently, I will call on Congress to fully repeal ObamaCare." It is enough to make your head spin.
As the Wall Street Journal editorialized, "Mr. Romney now claims ObamaCare should be repealed, but his failure to explain his own role or admit any errors suggests serious flaws both in his candidacy and as a potential President."
Beyond Romney and Huckabee the picture fades quickly as to a likely nominee. All the remaining candidates are dark horse or long shot candidates. Here is the latest word.
Former Governor Sarah Palin: News is quiet from up north. She has brought on some talented political people such as old Bob Dole hand, Michael Glassner, but beyond some kick butt speeches she gives at Tea Party rallies and Facebook postings, she hasn't been out building a ground game.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich: Newt is always full of surprises. He is smart, has good name recognition and is more active organizationally. Newt's problem is the lingering effect of old personal problems. He has worked hard to put this baggage in the past, but Republican primary voters are more religious and less forgiving than the general population. His hidden strength is that he will be the only Southerner if Huckabee doesn't run. The South rules the GOP primary calendar after Iowa and New Hampshire.
Finally, we believe the only other dark horse to watch is moderate Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. He is a favorite of the old Bush crowd. Daniels was a loyal part of the Bush team, working for him in Washington. Daniels will be well funded if he runs, and the Washington DC based GOP establishment would likely rally to his cause.
Daniels problems are weak name identification, and the needless fight he picked with social conservatives. Last June he told the Weekly Standard , "we face a 'genuine national emergency' regarding the budget and that 'maybe these things could be set aside for a while. But this doesn't mean anybody abandons their position at all. Everybody just stands down for a little while, while we try to save the republic.'"
This next year will be full of intrigue as this group of quality candidates jockey for position.
Unlike Myth, Gomer, Newt, Tim and Mitch, Gov. Palin doesn't need to "build" an organization. She already has tens of millions of Americans that will jump at the chance to volunteer, donate, fundraise and do all the things needed to help her win.
Huckster has name recognition because of his popular program on FOX. I do recall that once Romney and others starting pointing out his love of RINO Progressive history in ‘08, he started to fade in the polls pretty big. I have a feeling this is not going to be the year for a Tax and Spend RINO to do well.
Agree. I don’t see Huckabee’s appeal. He’s got a lot of baggage including illegal alien amnesty and in-state college tuition, pardons he did while governor, spending, etc. Plus he’s a supporter of the FairTax which should automatically disqualify him as a gullible rube.
I dunno why huck a bubba even gets any attention at all to tell you the truth. I wouldn’t vote for anyone from Hope, Arkansas on a dare.
Do you think she is waiting too long?
“If Huckabee doesn’t run, Romney goes to first position and is the next likeliest nominee. “
Not after his Romneycare speech.
Newt will fold like a cheap suit.
Trump F’d himself with his Vegas speech (I was there).
It could easily be Palin vs Huckabee. MitchDaniels has made some good moves, but is unlikely to gain stature.
Now? Because he didn't get a boost from taking out Osama? What is wrong with these two? Okay, they are putting forth Huckafraud as the frontrunnter so that answers that, but still.
” Republicans have a crowded field, but an impressive group of candidates”?
What a crock of crappola.
Some old party hacks, a few RINO scum.
Mitt, Newt, Huckabee, Ron Paul? Give me a freakin break, you wouldn’t let these old fools be crossing guards for your kids much less president.
I actually think the GOP establishment is going to rally around Newt and ditch Mitt. And it will come down to Palin or Huck versus Newt.
>>I don’t see Huckabee’s appeal.
I think a lot of people are just not well informed about the guy. I was talking to my barber yesterday and he indicated he liked Huckabee. I brought up his free-spending fiscal ways, and he was very surprised.
If Huck is the answer, it was a really stupid question.
LLS
I’m with you 100%. When she finally throws her hat in the ring I think millions of people will rally to her cause. We need someone of her caliber to really clean up DC.
This has to be a joke. Nobody thinks Huck is going to win the GOP nomination. Apparently Huck doesn’t think so either as it looks like he is not running. Thank goodness. Now if we can just convince Mitt to stay home. LOL!
I think Mitt is being jettisoned by the establishment types in favor of Mitch. That's where Huck comes in. Look for him to take more votes away from Sarah than he does Mitch.
That's why the establishment types want Huck in the race and that's why the Democrats want Huck in the race.
Up to this point Huck has been hesitant about announcing because I think he knows he's being used. Ed Rollins, Floyd Brown in this article, and a variety of bought-and-paid-for-by-the-MSM polls are trying to convince him otherwise.
This is how they try to stop Sarah and this is how they try to get their guy Mitch in.
Now...at the risk of being REALLY insensitive....would you trust your life and the life of everyone after you to a man who is diabetic and is gaining weight like the whales of the Pacific? Huckabuck can’t even abide by his diet in order to prevent complications that might impair his wellbeing and we are going to put his finger on the button? The only place I see his finger being put is on a donut.
Well smart money says Huck is announcing his non candidacy this evening. I hope he makes a million with the TV show and enjoys his new dream home in Fla. Just stay home Huck.
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