4 Dark-Horse Republicans in 2012: Pawlenty, Sanford, Huntsman, and Cantor
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
You already know the names of the Republican stars expected to run for the 2012 presidential nomination: Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Sarah Palin. But with the party divided over the direction it wants to go and a slew of others eager to get in the presidential race, we've come up with a list of dark horses who could pull off an upset just the way 50-to-1 long-shot Mine That Bird did at this year's Kentucky Derby. We know that many Republican leaders are looking to the GOP bench for a candidate, so Whispers over the past month polled some of them for their top 2012 presidential dark-horse picks.
Four topped our list: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, and Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia. Next: Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, and nearly a dozen other honorable mentions such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Could an upstart shove the likes of Newt and Mitt—the expected front-runners—aside? Right now, the insiders say that's unlikely, though there's a passion for Bush—but only if things get so bad under President Obama that his brother's unpopularity is forgotten. We will update our list of dark horses regularly and see if any new faces emerge.
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Tags: candidates | Republicans | Mark Sanford | Tim Pawlenty | Jon Huntsman | Eric Cantor
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Reader Comments
presidential ticket for 2012
Condolezza Rice & Newt Gingrich as VP!!!
Imagine a black, articulate, classy WOMAN with an enormous amount of experience running against a Obama! Can you imagine!!! The press will NOT demolisher for several reasons: 1) she's Black 2) she's a Woman 3) Extremely smart. She will not only get the Republican (conservative Vote) but she will pull in tons of Democrats not to mention the Afro-American vote! I also believe she will get an enormous amount of support from young students as they already look up to her given her elegance and intellectual capacity.
You missed Portman
When talking about "dark horse" Republican presidential candidates for 2012, Rob Portman should be on the list. He is very strong on fiscal policy and has solid experience---terms in Congress and two Cabinet-level positions. He resigned from the Bush (43) administration on principle---he did not agree with Bush's excessive spending policies. He is conservative on other issues and has the potential to unite the Republican party.
Ted Nugent is the MAN
If the Republicans had any sense, they would get Ted Nugent out front and center.
He is the shake up that they need!
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