>>Yet hated and despised with a passion by the other party. In other words... a lightening rod.<<
Are you saying we need to find someone that the left likes or at least knows will work with them on their agenda? Do you honestly think that a person who espouses a return to our roots of a Constitutional Republic will not be vilified by the LSM and left? How about for once we go all in and try to put in a person who works for US rather the capitulates.
Based on what I’ve seen , Romney, Huckabee, and Gingrich are the front runner right now. Pawlenty, Daniels, Pence, Barbour are all way behind. Looks like Giuliani wants to get in.
SP and Bachmann will probably not run. Ron Paul will make his usual Don quixote like stab at it.
Pay close attention to dark horses like John Thune or Marco Rubio who could wind up on the second spot of the ticket.