Good principled conservative but nobody outside of conservative message boards knows about him.
It’s going to be Palin or it’s going to be Romney.
That’s reality. I supported Duncan Hunter initially last election, but that was because there were no name recognition conservatives.
Palin has name recognition and is a player if she wants to get in. If not, Romney will win hands down.
Duncan Hunter was a good guy without the charisma and media savvy to rise to fame.
Mike Pence has the charisma, and he has the media savvy.
If he gets into the 2012 Presidential primaries, his speeches and his debate performances will catapult him into a high level of popularity and a high level of name recognition very, very quickly.
The “already pre-existing national name recognition before the primaries begin” argument that you’re making was made for McCain in 2008. People bought it. He got the nomination.