Posted on 09/26/2004 1:54:16 PM PDT by JLS
Bill First 5/2 John McCain 7/2 Rudolph Guiliani 7/2 George Pataki 9/2 Chuck Hagel 6 Mitt Romney 6 Bill Owens 8 Tom Ridge 8 George Allen 12 Norm Coleman 12 Lindsey Graham 14 Sam Brownback 14 Arnold Schwarzenegger 66 Dick Cheney 66 Jeb Bush 66 Laura Bush 100
Alan Keyes is among the never won a statewide office crowd and thus not serious candidates. Watts belongs in the crowd too, but since he won a Congressional race, he is much more politically seasoned than say Powell or Rice etc.
You haven't heard of him running in the first place. Let's not pre-empt an event that hasn't occurred yet.
I thought about several ways to do that, but then decided that anyone that mattered would get the joke and those that didn't, wouldn't (oh, that's not nice.......)
Won't happen. Certain groups in California are out to get him.
Let's get the 2004 election done with before we go on to the next one.
Ivan pointed out the gov. of SC. Very likely that some of the strongest candidates will be governors of mid to small states who are currently unknown.
Some people have touched on this, but I want to emphasize one point: Mitt Romney is Mormon.
What will hurt him on this count is not bigotry because I think anyone of any religious persuasion stands a better chance of being elected president than a Mormon. Every day will be media stories on some of the more . . . unusual . . . aspects of Mormonism. It'll be a tough sell.
The Republican Party is supposed to be about low taxes, less government and a strong military. Social conservatives would only isolate themselves from mainstream politics if they abandoned the Republican Party. The Party itself would remain sound on a national level-could anyone say the same about the 'Rats?
BTW, Ronaldus Magnus, surely the embodiement of modern conservatism, had deeply held beliefs and wasn't afraid to express them, but he didn't try to impose them on anyone, either. That was part of what made him a great leader.
I believe that George Allen would make a great candidate. He is an exceptionally strong conservative on all issues, and he has gained executive experience as governor of Virginia.
Allen is the ONLY senator that I would bet on as a presidential candidate. I've seen him on TV and he knows how to be glib and interesting without letting "Senate jargon" bog him down. This comes in part from his experience as a governor. Allen also has a likeable "good ole boy" aura to him that is much like GWB. He could be a very formidable candidate.
Even better, imagine if Allen was the nominee and Condi was his running mate! Allen/Condi '08! I think such a ticket would have an excellent chance of carrying the day. Allen, a strong and likeable conservative would be at the head of the ticket, and Condi, a lovely and intelligent black woman, as VP. They could make a staggering team.
Ewwwwwww. That would be enough to make a bulemic out of you, wot?
Not sure, please post info if you have, I'd be interested in knowing about it.
Where's Santorum?
If the RNC and Keyes poured everything into it they could, Keyes might be able to win Utah in a Presidential bid.
They have??? Name one.
At this point that's my scenario too (maybe there's just something about Cheney that inspires conspiracy theories LOL!).
Could be a lot of people though. There are many conservatives who would suddenly become very viable candidates as VP.
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Most of the odds are based on nothing but name recognition right now.
That said, I'll place my bet on Mitt Romney.
Four of our last 5 Presidents were governors (Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 43). That said, Arnold isn't eligible to run and Pataki is damaged goods (most NY Republicans can't stand him and will not let him get anywhere near the nomination). I could be wrong, but I think that Owens has gotten too much hype.
Allen was a governor, but he's also been tainted by the Senate. He also doesn't have a profile outside of Virginia and Capitol Hill.
Ridge is a possibility, given his profile and experience in the Bush administration. Jeb is a strong contender, but I can't imagine most people wanting to elect yet *another* President -- especially right after this one. Smacks of royalty too much.
No senator, especially none of the "winners" listed, will make it. No senator has been elected president since JFK (the original, not the metrosexual gasbag), and that was 44 years ago.
Dick Cheney doesn't want the job, and nobody has ever thought of Laura Bush as a candidate for any office.
I love Rudy Giuliani and think he'd do a fantastic job, but I just don't see him getting the nomination. Between his past marital problems (especially being on his third marriage) and his less-than-conservative positions on certain issues, I can't imagine him getting the nod.
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