Palin, Huckabee, Romney Dominate GOP 2012 Field
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
To all the budding Republican superstars looking at the 2012 presidential race—that would include Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty—your time might be running out. In a party that allows for only a handful of big names in the primaries and favors those making a second try, the room is getting full. "We already have a relatively mature field," says GOP pollster Bill McInturff. And by mature, he means that there are already three established candidates: Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, and Mitt Romney.
"I always talk about oxygen in a presidential primary race, with the amount of oxygen being finite, meaning attention and coverage," McInturff tells Whispers. "If Governor Palin does run, it is difficult to imagine how a new candidate gets the oxygen needed for a breakout," he says. "In this way, it accrues to the advantage of already established candidates like Palin, Huckabee, and Romney."
Not all Republicans agree, of course. But others acknowledge that it takes much longer now for candidates to raise enough money to mount a strong campaign. Also, early candidates gobble up the campaign talent. And unlike the Democratic Party, the Republican camp generally likes to nominate somebody who has run before.
Still, despite the dominance of the big three likely presidentials, some in the GOP are hoping for a new conservative face, particularly one being pushed by the activists who attended spring antitax tea parties and flooded summer town halls to demand a halt to government expansion. And for them, insiders say, that could be Daniels, the fiscal conservative and rare Republican governor to win re-election in a state President Obama won in 2008. We hear he's serious about considering a 2012 entry, so much so that he's consulting with some of those who once sat in the White House, like former Vice President Dan Quayle, also a Hoosier.
Illustration by Ed Wexler for USN&WR.
Tags: Mitt Romney | Mike Huckabee | Tim Pawlenty | Sarah Palin
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (41) | Print
Reader Comments
Ron Paul
Ron Paul, most qualified, these sites do nothing more than reflect the T.V.'s and he elite's choice for a GOP candidate. WAKE UP CONSERVATIVES, YOUR BEING HAD AGAIN, SARA PALIN IS ON OPRAH FOR GODS SAKES! WAKE UP!
Thinking Americans will dominate in 2012
Huckabee is the only one that makes real common sense. Americans won't need a great politician in 2012 just like Obama in 2008. Leadership credentials placed in the table, only Huckabee makes sense.
*Bipartisanship (indicator of good leader) = Huckabee has 10+ years of that with very good results. He might not be deadly conservative in an overwhelmingly democratic/liberal state and legislature but he was able to push the essential conservative principles that he dearly holds, that most Americans dearly hold.
The support of Huckabee comes from mothers, fathers, sons, daughters who care for their families not only in terms of finances but also in terms of character and values. That support reaches across the the political aisle. And most of all, they are busy enough to involve in stupid blogs with stupid bloggers like this one. No wonder Gov. Huckabee leads almost all the polls during the last six months. Reading the bloggers posts here, Huckabee looks like a sure looser but the polls surely suggests something else.
Huckabee has my vote if ever he runs in 2012 0r 2016. Same with approx. 71% Republicans and 40% concerned Americans according to the latest Gallup Poll.
All for Huck!
Wendy
I saw some back room interviews with Huckabee after Iowa and felt a man of self interest emerge. I think he exhibits a tendency for power. Power hungry individuals are the most frightening to me.
advertisement
