Posted on 06/25/2009 12:43:35 PM PDT by bmweezer
Sure, the New Hampshire primary for 2012 is still nearly thirty months away, but it makes no difference, since we’re ready to make this prediction:
The GOP nominee for president in 2012 will be one of these five would-be candidates: Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush or Michael Huckabee.
Consider Gingrich vs. Huckabee the ultimate flip of a coin in this sense: if one jumps into the primary race, the other will remain on the sidelines. Both are trying their best to charm the same interest groups and both sound similar on the talk show circuit. Still, Huckabee could be Gingrich without the hassle. Of course, the former Arkansas governor might decide that hosting his own talk show is best, at least for 2012.
Haley Barbour is sitting pretty. While other would-be challengers fall by the wayside (Mark Sanford, for one), Barbour remains a popular second-term governor in his native Mississippi. With visits to campaign for GOP gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia on the horizon, one of the architects of the GOP’s 1994 resurgence could be setting another path to party redemption which could be well-rewarded in 2012. Barbour’s two weaknesses are this: his past as a heavy-hitting lobbyist, and the fact that Mississippi isn’t exactly a traditional starting point for a presidential run (no one from the state has been elected to the nation’s highest office.) Still, if voters find Obama’s liberalism really distasteful come ‘12, a return to traditional political values might make Harbour just the guy to take on the president.
Mitt Romney – like Barbour – continues to look stronger, as other GOPers fizzle out. While finishing second to John McCain in ‘08 might be cause for concern, the former Massachusetts governor’s is increasingly becoming the go-to guy when people want to talk to Mr. Republican. Still, 2012 is a long way off.
And then there is Jeb Bush, who’s political future is still largely determined by the popularity (or lack thereof) of the Bush brand. As long as the majority of Americans view the George W. Bush era with distain versus that of Barack Obama, Jeb will remain on the sideline. However, if Obama’s numbers begin looking like those of another Bush when he faced reelection (think George H.W. Bush), Jeb might be just the ticket.
Who has the edge? Perhaps Romney, followed by Barbour. Perhaps.
Ted Tally is a writer living in Las Vegas. He should not be confused with the Academy-Award winning screen-writer by the same name.
Gaaaak.
WE WANT SARAH!!!!
WE WANT SARAH!!!!
WE WANT SARAH!!!!
So basically he’s predicting a second term for lord Zero.
I don’t think it will be any of the ones listed there.
I think the guy is assuming that the Republican political party will still be legal in 2012.
No more Bushes and no Romney! Purge the RINOs.
What’s the difference?
Forgot Sarah and Bobby. I don’t see Barbour going much because of the corruption charges brought against him before. Also don’t see Newt running despite his constant angling.
A completely unnecessary warning.
Two words:
Draft Palin
I think Sarah will throw her hat into the ring... and McCain will as well, thinking he can do it this time.
***Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush or Michael Huckabee.***
Don’t know much about Haley Barbour, but the other 4... really?
Well... at least McCain’s not on the list...
This column is a joke right?
If Romney gets the nod I’m going to throw up.
Didn’t we learn ANYTHING from McCain??
He will only have one term. He thinks he's god for life.
Give Ted Tally[whacker] some credit. He thinks there will actually be an election in 2012
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