I don’t know Phil, I think it could hurt or help, I have no idea how it would play out. There were no TV cameras the last time there was a real free for all.
I think that there would only be a slim chance someone other than Santorum or Romney would be nominated. (zero chance for Paul or Newt) One of them would probably have to withdraw and free their delegates for it to happen.
“Some good candidates would be Dirk Kemthorne, John Ashcroft, Haley Barbour, and Bobby Jindal.”
Kempthorne is an unknown from Idaho. Barbour is a fat southern lobbyist turned Governor who left office handing out questionable pardons. Ashcroft is a polarizing figure and served during the unpopular Bush administration. I would not pick any of those. Jindal is okay with me but he got poor marks for his SOTU reply a few years back that really put the brakes on the Presidential speculation for him.
I definitely would not want a great big bunch of new candidates to turn it into a circus. I’d be looking for 1 guy who could lock it up and then clean Obama’s clock.
If the Governor of Wisconsin is, as we expect, coming off a win in his stupid recall election then he would be my first choice.
Ashcroft is MSM-damaged, same as Jindal, although to a far lesser extent.
I've always liked Haley Barbour. That “aw shucks” act covers up that he's a grade A political animal. But he would be portrayed as “Boss Hogg” if he ran. Plus he f**ked up at the end of his term as Gov. with those pardons.
Scott Walker would be an EXCELLENT choice, BTW!!!