Whomever is the GOP nominee, breaking ranks or sitting home will re-elect 0
Posted on 03/12/2011 10:04:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
This past week, I've seen or read plenty of news analyses suggesting that the Republicans have a weak field of presidential hopefuls for 2012.
Not so. I believe many of the potential candidates for the GOP nomination have strategically strong paths to the White House, assuming President Obama still is vulnerable next year.
Last week in this column, I put forth an explanation as to why Newt Gingrich is a stronger political force than many imagine. This week, let's consider the Republicans' other potential major candidates for the White House.
For starters, there's Mitt Romney. Some will contend his expected candidacy is fatally flawed from the start, thanks to the largely unsuccessful health care reform that he championed when he was governor of Massachusetts. And yes, the 2010 elections were a stark rebuke of "ObamaCare." But Romney, to his credit, has already admitted that his best intentions on health care in his home state didn't work as he'd hoped.
Romney is handsome and charismatic. He knows how to run an organization and already has a voter base from his presidential run in 2008. In my mind, he's the early front-runner for his party's nomination in 2012.
Of course, some people view Romney as a bit too moderate. Others are troubled by his Mormon religion. Still others think he's just a little too smooth. For these folks, there's Mike Huckabee, who is probably the most genuine person potentially in the race.
But Huckabee is more than just a folksy good guy. He's also smart. He may be best known right now for his gig on Fox News, and he may himself believe that his presidential chances could look better after 2012. But if he does run this time, he will become the new front-runner. More, his chances to win the critical early caucus and primary contests in Iowa and South Carolina would be quite good.
Everyone seems to love to hate Sarah Palin; everyone, that is, except for the hardcore Republican base - and yours truly. Her devoted following gives her a head start if she decides to run. And for political instincts, this woman makes Hillary Clinton look like she is standing still.
In some ways, Palin reminds me of female version of Ronald Reagan in 1980. The press dubbed him incompetent and unelectable. The people found him magnetic and about two tons smarter than he was given credit for.
Keep a watchful eye on Palin. She learned the ropes during her vice-presidential campaign as John McCain's running mate. My only advice to her would be to stop putting down every other Republican. Otherwise, she's good to go if she decides to run.
I have tremendous respect for columnist and pundit George Will. He says 2012 will be primarily a year for governors to emerge as viable presidential candidates. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana are two Republicans who immediately come to mind. But my top choice would be Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. He's been a lobbyist, yes, but so what? These days, it seems everyone is hawking influence, either in person or through books, CDs, nonprofit organizations and so on.
Barbour's biggest drawback would be his syrupy Southern accent. But supporters and foes alike would be well-advised to pay less attention to Barbour's twang than to his second-to-none smarts.
Watch out for him as a potential dark-horse Republican nominee.
Then there's Donald Trump. I know, I know - few in the political world are taking him seriously. But I do. The man is brilliant, and he knows how to organize and raise money.
Trump would need the assistance and expertise of veteran politicos were he to run. But he has huge name identification, and that puts him halfway to winning already.
Whoever the GOP's nominee turns out to be, the biggest mistake the party could make would be to take Obama and his chances of winning too lightly. The president is articulate, and he's likeable to many independents and Democrats.
He's also been moving swiftly (and wisely) to the political middle of the road. That could enable him to again win moderate-to-conservative states such as North Carolina and Florida.
Soon, the presidential race will begin in earnest. To my mind, the Republican field of potential candidates is at least as strong as it was in 2008.
******
• Matt Towery heads the polling and political information firm InsiderAdvantage.
All good points. With the debacle that is the Obama administration, do you really think we’ll see another black president in our lifetime?
I disagree strongly. Palin is the only one listed with a chance. She deserves a shot in 2012.
Don't know, Unfortunately like any other election it would depend on the mushy middle.
Despite how the left paints us, Conservatives are color blind and as long as the candidate can unite the fiscal and social factions of the party we would all be behind him/her regardless of color.
Liberals no matter what would paint that candidate as an Uncle Tom and not vote for him/her anyhow.
That leaves the middle, which who knows, maybe by then American Idol and Celebrity Dance Stars may be canceled and then who knows what they will remember /forget about the Obama administration.
Wonderful graphic! I love it!
However, I think that this time, they had better not give us another McCain.
“Whomever is the GOP nominee, breaking ranks or sitting home will re-elect 0”
The TEA Party held ranks with the Republicans last time, giving them one more chance. If they give us another McCain, there will be a third party challenge.
That argument won’t hold water this time.
We are going to take the Senate in ‘12, it’s just a matter of who the presidential nominee will be.
I hope that he...or she...;o)...will be another Walker.
BTW, I would love to see Walker as Veep.
I still think Rudy is the man.
I still think Rudy is the man.
I still think Rudy is the man.
This past week, I’ve seen or read plenty of news analyses suggesting that the Republicans have a weak field of presidential hopefuls for 2012.
No truer statement has ever been made. Only Sarah is not weak. Michelle is not weak either. But other than that......WEAK!!!!!! Almost embarrassing.
Well, in Cain’s case, it’s not for lack of trying. He’s a good man, but I don’t think running someone who couldn’t even win a primary in his own state a good candidate against 0bama. Presidency is not a place to gain experience for public service.
We have a good raw, unedited list. Not all are running and not all are recommendable, but it’s still quite a list. A few are real Conservatives.
Sarah Palin
Michelle Bachmann
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
John Thune
Tim Pawlenty
Mitch Daniels
Mike Pence
Rick Santorum
Haley Barbour
Mike Huckabee
Bobby Jindal
Paul Ryan
David Petraeus,
Ron Paul
Jeb Bush
John Bolton
Bob McDonnell
Jim DeMint
Chris Christie
Herman Cain
Gary Johnson
Judd Greg
Marco Rubio
Bobby Jindal
Rick Perry
Rand Paul
Kurt Weldon
Tom Tancredo
Duncan Hunter
Col. Allen West
Herman Cain
How do you feel about THIS MAN?
Click to learn more about her...
Elect Sarah Palin for President 2012
Re-Elect President Sarah Palin 2016
I like him but he is a one term House member. Can he at least run for Senate or be part of the House for a while. However his military background is great. I have no problem calling him and will in fact, but I don’t think he will run......YET.
[If he gets a second term,you ain’t seen nothing yet.]
You ain’t just whistling dixie!
And those who choose to ‘write in’ or vote 3rd party will be responsible if he wins.
Absolutely!
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