Possibility: HAley Barbour for president in ‘08 (Move over Hilary)

The Yazoo Herald ^ | 01-04-04 | http://www.yazooherald.com

[TASMANIANRED]

Republicans actually have some attractive people out there right now. Just elected the first Republican governor in Ky in over 30 years.

He has good credentials. He was a fighter pilot, is an MD, served in the Ky senate for a few years. I have heard him speak and his oratory skills are pretty good.

The 5 of the last 7 presidents have come from the ranks of governors as opposed to the senate .

The Republicans have a fine talent pool for the future. The Democrats have socialist retreads....

[NewLand]

The Republicans have a fine talent pool for the future.

Agreed. Gov. Owens of Colorado...Gov. Benson of NH...Sen. George Allen of VA...Gov. Jeb Bush of FL...Marc Racicot...

Personally, I don't see Haley Barbour as a POTUS candidate...

[Verginius Rufus]

A Mississippian has never occupied the White House...

Unless you count the one in Richmond, Virginia...

[Torie]

Good luck, but I am skeptical as well. He looks and sounds like a Southern good ole boy. But with intense media exposure, that will either gain traction or fade. I don't think Barbour would run for president in any event, but that's just a guess. Just who does have what it takes however, I am not sure. I don't know some of the Pubbie governors well enough to handicap, but governors do have an advantage.

[Walkingfeather]

dont be so quick to judge.... he might have a point that the post is delussional. One word. HALEY. We will not have a president named Haley unless its a girl. Sorry but that is politics.

[WillRain]

Stranger things have happened, and given the increasing importance of money, he's got at least that as an advantage on everyone else. I doubt things like his name or his accent (James Earl Carter anyone?) will be big factors.

I'll tell you what will be the deciding factors, IMO:

1. Who will be the competition? If it's the likes of Kasic, he'll run, be nominated, and likely win (as it would take a really bad GOP effort to lose to Hillary).
I love John Kasic but he doesn't have anything like the visual media presence to carry the ticket - he's just doesn't have the genes (although he's ideal for a VP).
All of the other mentioned names just don't measure up.

Jeb isn't fool enough to run right as GW goes out;
Powell won't run and can't get nominated if he does;
Rudy can't get nominated and I don't think Barbour would duck a race against Rudy anyway;
Condi Rice would be an attractive candidate if she can get out of some of her previously stated positions such as pro-choice (and if she does she'd be far and away the best choice for VP);
Some other guys are very good but might come off as a bit green such as Watts, Lindsey Graham, etc.;
And except for George Allen, none of the other govorners have the national profile necessary;

So, the balance on this factor is favorable to a Barbour candidacy...all the competition is
a. unknown (other govorners)
b. too young or (Watts, Graham, et al)
c. too liberal (Guliani, Ridge, Powell, Rice?)
...with only a few exceptions.

2. Who will GWB endorse? He exibited very close ties with Haley in the Gov race, but he's also very close to Condy, and if Jeb insists on running he has to back him.
This, IMO, is THE factor. If Bush wins big in 2004 he's the gorilla in the room in terms of steering the 2008 nomination process...and name or no name, if Barbour can marry his contacts with Bush's (presumed) influance the nomination will be exceedingly hard to deny him.

OTOH, IF Bush's second term is quite unpopular, then Haley may chose to lay low - run for re-election in 2007 and let the GOP waste it's time on a "middle of the road" loser like Ridge and come back strong in 2012. The caveat here though, is that the GOP dare not conceed 2008 to Hillary...if they can't fdamage her before the 2008 cycle then, no matter how bad Bush might slip, they HAVE to take their best shot at her.

In any case, I'd like to see him run for re-election here (or hand pick a quality successor not named Amy Tuck) so that if for whatever reason he doesn't get the nomination, we're not stuck with some Bozo for 4 years because of his attempt.


Oh, and as an aside, Trent Lott DID look like a man on his way to the White House before he got to be Majority Leader. His flaws (which are noteable) were not nerely so well exposed until then.

[TheAngryClam]

Yeah right.

Because Barbour will totally deliver the South!

Bill Owens for President, 2008.

[CyberAnt]

No way!!

[bourbon]

Excellent post (#26). You make an excellent case for a "Haley moment."

BTW, I wish you'd post more often on MS threads! IMHO, you always make good contributions when you do.

[onyx]

One word. HALEY. We will not have a president named Haley unless its a girl. Sorry but that is politics.

Are you serious? Think "Haley's Comet," and not some over-the-hill English actress who starred in Disney films three or four decades ago.

Names do matter in politics which is why I knew GORE would not win. But a first name of Haley is a girl's name and an impediment to the presidency? No way. I'll grant you some "modern day parents" have taking to naming their girls Haley, but they've not hi-jacked the name to feminism entirely.

His full name is Haley Reeves Barbour, and I'll bet that were he a democrat governor, many babies would be named after him. Heck, some smart parents still might.

Now, I'll grant you we'll not ever elect a president or a mayor named walkingfeather. :)

[onyx]

He looks and sounds like a Southern good ole boy. But with intense media exposure, that will either gain traction or fade.

He looks and sounds Southern 'cause he is. He's charming, he's smart, he's from the humblest of beginnings, and there's not a finer or more wholesome, self-made man in politics today.

I agree with you, however, "he'll either gain traction of he won't." If folks give him a chance, they'll love him. Haley is one pol, whose life is a open book and its pages are all clean.

[onyx]

Bill Owens for President, 2008.

WHO DAT?

[TheAngryClam]

Governor of Colorado.

National Review called him "The Best Governor in America."

[onyx]

Governor of Colorado.

National Review called him "The Best Governor in America."

---

Sounds good to me, but give Haley a year and National Review will select him. You just wait and see. :)

[Republican Wildcat]

What about Governor Fletcher? Is he in the running?

[oceanview]

if Barbour is the best we've got, Hillary is in.

[onyx]

A tie between the two would suit me fine. :)

[onyx]

if Barbour is the best we've got, Hillary is in.

You have the mindset of a democrat. Barbour and Rice would be unbeatable or vice versa.

[onyx]

I hope yall realize that Haley's Southern accent is the elephant in the livingroom that his detractors here are afraid to mention.

Funny, 'cause I find that New England, Yankee accent of JFK and the like, absolutely unbearable.

[Walkingfeather]

I would never vote in any country that had me as president