[HiTech RedNeck]

That leaves the Republican party with a lesser field of candidates: McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Virginia Senator George Allen, and a few others. All of them have distinct handicaps. McCain's is that many Republican loathe him. Giuliani is a social liberal. Allen and Romney are inexperienced at the national level. Frist has a soft and blurred image.

History shows that governors have better odds of getting into the Presidency than do other politicians. How does Barbour sound out on the issue? The press puns will be endless of course ("Hillary just had a close shave with Barbour").

[dufekin]

What about Governors Rick Perry (R-TX), Haley Barbour (R-MS), or Mark Sanford (R-SC)? I know that Bill Owens (R-CO) seems to have family issues. Don Siegleman (R-AL) favors higher taxes. Jeb Bush (R-FL) is too closely related to former governor George W. Bush (R-TX). I haven't heard all that much stellar about Sonny Purdue (R-GA). Roy Blunt (R-MO) seems attractive. Has anyone asked Secretary of Agriculture [former governor] Mike Johanns (R-NE)? Or former governor Frank Keating (R-OK)?

How about General Tommy Franks? Or any of the other generals running the war on terrorism? C'mon, folks, we've got to have a candidate!

[Katya]

Sen George Allen was governor of Virginia. I like his politics, but think his demeanor is slightly dufus. Not sure if it will translate well nationally without an extreme makeover. Gaggingly speaking, McCain has the best propsects thus far, of winning the presidency.