I haven't found any dirt on Mike Johanns, the Secretary of Agriculture and a popular former Governor of Nebraska. He also meets all biographical criteria that history suggests we need to win:
* able to carry home state (Bush carried every county in Nebraska in 2004, and Johanns trounced his Democrat opponent 69-27 in 2002)
* first election as a statewide official or to Congress fewer than fifteen years ago [since 1993] (the mayor of Lincoln first ascended to the governorship in 1999);
* either a governor or a member of the President's Cabinet (Johanns qualifies under both; the former gives him important experience in running the massive structure of government, the latter in such federal issues as foreign policy)
* NOT A SENATOR (although redundant with the next preceding criterion, Senators almost always lose because they sound particularly boring and long-winded but lack charisma or convictions; President Bush will tell you that filibustering and flip-flopping skills only impede you in making many critical decisions quickly as commander-in-chief)
Johanns also possesses some critical advantages in preparing for the presidency: as Secretary, he has developed a network of foreign contacts and an understanding of global affairs without coming under withering media fire or getting intricately involved in the Iraq battle theater. He also can take credit for anything good for farmers in farm states, and rural media around the country probably possess a passing familiarity with him and regard him favorably.
Johanns is an interesting choice, but the record for Cabinet Secretaries ascending to the WH is few (only 2, both Republicans, since 1856: Herbert Hoover-Commerce; William Howard Taft-War, and both were considered failures as President), and he may be too obscure a dark horse for the position. Johanns' successor, Dave Heineman could be just as good a candidate. He was considered little more than a seat warmer for Congressman Tom Osborne, but with Osborne's implosion (and his running mate's (Kate Witek) insanity of switching to the 'Rats after she lost), he ended up a giant-killer (at least by Nebraska standards).
So Johanns can carry Nebraska? So could Charles Manson if he was the GOP presidential nominee. And I'm not so sure that Johanns would run that strongly in the few swing states that are nearby, such as Iowa and Colorado. I'd much rather have Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty as our presidential nominee---he's from a Dem-leaning swing state that would probably move to our column if he ran, he should run strongly in neighboring swing states Wisconsin and Iowa, and his blue-collar background and social conservatism would give the Democrats nightmares in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
But I agree with DJ that Herman Cain would make an excellent candidate as well---and he's a former Nebraskan to boot! : )