RNC Chief: Wait for Surprise Candidates in 2012 White House Race

The pool of GOP White House hopefuls could be getting bigger. Last week, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour jumped out and Rep. Ron Paul dipped his toes in, but Republican National Committee chief Reince Priebus says some surprise candidates are waiting to jump in. “The very idea of America is at stake in this next election,” Priebus says. “Many people are going to feel compelled to get into the race.” He doesn’t know who that might be, though two new polls show Mike Huckabee leading in South Carolina. But he does say the field will be solidified by summer’s end. And by the time of the convention in Tampa next year, Republicans will “feel that they will have a very good alternative to Barack Obama.” Priebus also says the RNC can have its debt down to under $5 million from $20 million by the end of the year by “reaching out and earning trust.”
 

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