I said on another thread that the field of "likely" 2012 candidates is considerably less inspiring than the 2008 field (which wasn't very inspiring to begin with) and I stand by that. I wouldn't go as far to say Obama is guranteed re-election with the current crop of hopefuls, but we certainly need better options. Right now, I can find no candidate I want to rally around.
I would agree that Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, and Herman Cain make my "acceptable" list (I could stomach them as our nominee). But Field said it said, when we look at those four we're pretty much debating over who the "best mediocre" candidate. Even Herman Cain, 2012's answer to 2008's Duncan Hunter (an articulate solid principled conservative) is no where near on the level of Hunter, who was a decorated Vietnam vet, proven winner in a Democrat district, and long-time established conservative official who served as chairman of the armed services committee.
Let's face it, our likely choices suck thus far. I pray there's a surprising dark horse entry that no one is talking about. Carcieri, Rounds, and Heineman are intriguing "what if?" candidates. I doubt Carcieri could ultimately carry Rhode Island, but at least I think he would make this normally safe Democrat state competative for the GOP and force the Dems to spend money there. But whether those four electoral votes will matter much remains to be seen.
Since 1900, only one Republican became president by defeating an incumbent. That was Ronald Reagan, in 1980. He had these four traits that might have helped him:
1. He was conservative.
2. He was a governor.
3. He sought the nomination, in a previous election.
4. He was from the West.
These Republicans, who might run, have at least three of those four traits: Sarah Palin, Dirk Kempthorne, and Mitt Romney. I hope that all of them will run, and I hope that Tim Pawlenty and Buddy Roemer will run. I hope that at least four of them will continue campaigning until the convention. If that happens, no one will get the majority of the delegates before the convention. The convention will be more suspenseful and exciting, causing more people to watch and hear the great republican ideas. That happened in 1980, and Reagan won about 40 states.