Compared to some of the nonstarters on this list (Mittens, Hucky, Ron Paul) he looks “not bad”. Being an ex-governor is a plus as well. Can “not bad” win the whole thing next year? I don't know.
Herman Cain is an interesting man. I like him a lot, but I agree with what others have posted, no way in hell does the nomination go to a person who have never won a single election. VP? Ehhh...maybe? Treasury Sec. or Fed Reserve Chair? YES!
Thoughts?
Pawlenty I tended to put in the same category as Mitch Daniels for non-starters. He presided over a disastrous decline of GOP fortunes in the state (essentially lost the MN House majority and near-tie in the Senate), he didn’t forcefully contest the judicial and DFLer theft of the Senate seat for Frankenstein. He nearly lost reelection in ‘06 (winning only after some stupid gaffe by the DFL running mate). He’s tried to have it both ways on TARP. He just came off as a big squish. Another problem, too, is that I sincerly doubt he’d even carry MN in a Presidential race were he to be nominated. That was one of the reasons I opposed him as a VP candidate in ‘08, as he would have brought nothing to the ticket. Put it all down to a gut feeling I have about him that just rubs me the wrong way. Is he as bad as Huckster or Slick Willard ? No. But that’s like saying getting the clap is better than getting AIDS.
The more I think about it the more attractive Cain seems.
He’ll probably have a tough time getting traction (liberal blogs are laughing at him). But if his campaign does take off he’d warrant strong consideration.
Of course unlike the other candidates he doesn’t have a record in office so we have only his word to judge his polices on.
My biggest problem with T-Paw is his stance on climate change (now flipped flopped on but can we trust him? He seems a bit McCainy). He ain’t the worst choice though.
Pawlenty, while he governed my state, was very cozy with the Will Steger AGM crowd, and was a champion of ethanol subsidies. He was strong fiscally, and did the very best job I think he could do with Democrat controlled state houses regarding the budget, but he is in fact squishy on those isses. There are others. I think calling him a RINO is a bit overboard, but is he the best conservative being bandied about? I don't think so.