Posted on 06/14/2009 11:50:39 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — If the Republican Party is in danger of being marginalized as a conservative, white male Southern enclave, is Haley Barbour — the longtime Washington power broker and current Mississippi governor — the best person to turn things around?
Many rank-and-file Republicans and party leaders say yes, as the 61-year-old Barbour prepares to ramp up his national profile this month with back-to-back trips to the early presidential voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Barbour will headline fundraisers in both states, but says the visits are part of his duties as incoming chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Both states have governors' races next year.
"I've told everyone I know that every Republican ought to be focused on governors' races in 2009 and the 2010 elections," Barbour said in an interview with The Associated Press.
A former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Barbour has emerged as a leader of his party's efforts to retool for the future. His allies believe he could be a formidable presidential contender if he chooses to play.
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Much as I like him, he’s a nogo for me. He’d make a pretty good VP to SP, I’d think though.
Much as I like him, he’s a nogo for me. He’d make a pretty good VP to SP, I’d think though.
Why? He looks like a pretty good conservative.
He’s a non-starter simply because he’s an old white-guy party hack, and has the charisma of an oak tree.
Because I have decided that SP is my only choice. I am not going to settle for seconds, or thirds, or damn-near-lasts like I pretty much was forced to do for McCain. In my opinion 2012 is going to be the last next to fair election, if that and I’m pulling out the stops. When she declares, it’s mucho megagusta donation time like clockwork through credit cards and money orders. I don’t care about legality.
No Thanks Very much!
Well put.
Sounds like “old white guys” aren’t worthy of being the president anymore. I guess it’s a Sotomayor thing.
Look, of all the RNC chairmen, Haley Barbour is the only one I remember. He must have done something right.
“old white guy...no personality...party hack”
You have got to be kidding me! Are you a liberal prowler or just someone who is simply ignorant of today’s consevative leaders?
Do you even know who Haley Barbour is? The man is a white guy but he has a great personality and is unrivaled on TV. He simply destroys liberal arguments and does it in a down home very folksy manner. Haley was a major in the consevative revolution in ‘94 and is blowing the liberals out of the water in MS today.
He would be a great candidate and a great conservative President.
You’re right and I like him. I like Sarah better and I’m not settling.
What a stupid thing for you to say.
Yes, I know exactly who Haley Barbour is...Governor of Mississippi and former head of the RNC.
He's a nice enough guy, but the fact of the matter is, he is indeed an old party hack who has NO chance of going toe-to-toe with Obama and will NOT draw the tens of thousands of grassroots Conservative voters that Sarah Palin has already shown that she can do. Haley's also got a big strike against him...
SOLD DOWN THE RIVER. How Haley Barbour sabotaged eminent domain reform
So, get off it.
I loved to listen to him when he was the head of the RNC. Intelligent man and back down to no one....at the time he was quite conservative...hope he still is...
Does anyone know his position on enforcing immigration law?
He’s a non-starter simply because he’s an old white-guy party hack, and has the charisma of an oak tree.
This Nation was founded by old white guys.
That mudslide of a face what he has isn’t a particular asset. He doesn’t cut a Presidential figure. That can be overcome by a compelling story, spellbinding rhetoric, impressive achievements, or by scads of money. None of those does he have, either.
Well, that’s nice to know, but let me put it to you like this, NO old white party hack is going to beat Obama in 2012, no matter how bad things get. It’s going to take someone more, someone who can out-Obama Obama.
I like Haley a lot but I am afraid he reminds people of “Boss Hogg”. Also is there anything in his lobbyist background that can come back an haunt him?
I am voting for Sarah too and maybe Haley would be a good VP candidate for her.
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