Free Republic

It's a familiar plotline. An interloper runs for a party's presidential nomination and, with an anti-insider pitch, scores wins and near-wins in the first contests with vote pluralities. His numerous opponents, fearful of antagonizing his enthusiastic supporters, launch attacks on one another that, predictably, hurt the attacker as well as the target. Party establishment types, convinced the interloper is a sure loser in November, dither and tilt things mildly against him while trying to maintain the impression of fairness. Candidates with no chance remain in the race, dividing the anti-interloper vote, hoping the interloper will collapse. But he doesn't, and...

If you’re wondering whether my Governor is going to try to become our President, I have no magic window to that, even though I have known him for nearly twenty tears. But from here in Texas, where all kinds of political plotlines are getting attention, there are some insights I can share as Rick Perry plans a return to private life that may be only momentary. First, let’s get rid of the dumbest analysis of the past week-- the notion that Perry is not seeking re-election because he feared a loss to pro-choice rock starlet Wendy Davis. Senator Davis may...

There are years when you know, going in, that there’s no chance of victory. The Democrats in 1984, perhaps, or the Republicans in 1996. As maddening as those years were for either side, perhaps nobody would have had a chance against the incumbent. In such cases, you might choose to run a sacrificial lamb, or a party elder who deserves one last chance at seeing his name on a ballot again, enjoying the adulation of the faithful at their hopeful but pointless rallies. So the Democrats ran Walter Mondale – "the bracket-creep veep" – in 1984 against Ronald Reagan. And...

It's time again to measure the free republic preference for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee. Please only vote for one of the candidates listed. Votes for candidates not on the list will not be included in the final tally of votes. Each candidate qualified for this list based on their own statements or political activities that indicate they will likely run. Palin Romney Huckabee Gingrich Pawlenty Bachman Barbour Cain Pence Santorum Giuliani Daniels

WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo has raised more than $1 million for his exploratory presidential bid, saying that makes it far more likely he will follow through with a full-fledged candidacy. Tancredo, R-Littleton, said he?s aware of the daunting odds he faces going up against bigger-name Republican contenders who have millions more dollars in the bank. Still, he said he takes heart in the large number of average folks - backers of his hard-line stand against illegal immigration - who have made small contributions averaging $59 on the Team Tancredo web site. "It?s amazing to me," Tancredo said. "I know...

Now that the 2004 Presidential Election is over, it appears that the democrats are of the opinion that New York Senator Hillary Clinton is one of the best possibilities for being named the next democrat nominee for President in 2008. What is your opinion on this? I feel that John Edwards presently thinks he could mount a serious challenge for the democrat nomination for President, but I doubt that he would attract enough funding to fuel his challenge to the point that he would ultimately be successful. I have also heard the name of Indiana democrat Senator Evan Bayh (and...