2. Must be an across-the-board conservative to mobilize the entire base -- we saw how important that was in this election. Rules out Romney, Guiliani, Pataki, etc...
3. No major dirty laundry -- question mark on Bill Owens.
4. Must be telegenic, bright, a good speaker.
Short list: Mark Sanford of SC, Jim Pawlenty of MN, Jeb Bush, anybody else?
The problem the GOP has is obvious: nobody with good nation-wide name recognition other than Bush, and would we seriously be able to elect a third Bush? Which means that we need to start getting these guys nation-wide name-recognition.
Not only a 3rd Bush.... in 2016, George P. Bush would be ready to run. Yikes. Dynasty.
I'd add Mike Huckabee (AR) to the list.
1. Current Governor of AR
2. Definitely a social conservative, fiscal conservatism could be a problem but AR does not have a large tax base so he has limits here. But he is trying to turn AR into a major supplier of the auto plants in other southern states so hopefully in the long run a successor won't be faced with the problems he has.
3. If you mean by "dirty laundry" moral scandals (I think you may mean this as you referenced Owens) no known problems here. His problem may be in releasing some felons early that have come back to haunt him (the revenge of Willie Horton).
4. Recently featured on 700 Club this past week. I think he comes across quite well. He also has backlogs of radio clips on the AR Governor's website and he sounds good. Also after losing 110 pounds he looks much better.