Posted on 02/22/2012 7:30:25 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
What happens if Romney loses Michigan next week? Some are saying it could mean the Republican Party needs a new candidate to take on President Barack Obama. Here’s POLITICO’s list of 10 people who could jump into the race (or be tapped as the GOP standardbearer at a brokered convention):
1. Jeb Bush: The former governor from a key state is the top choice for many wishful-thinking Republicans, although he’s said repeatedly he won’t do it.
2. Mitch Daniels: The Indiana chief executive, who gave the high-profile 2012 Republican response to the State of the Union, decided last year he wouldn’t seek the nomination but he remains a leading figure for those focused on deficit and budget issues.
3. Sarah Palin: Whatever happened to the tea party, anyway? Palin may be more divisive than other possible contenders and polls show she’s not very popular with the electorate, but there’s no question she could pump up the conservative base.
4. Chris Christie: A favorite for his brash, unfiltered approach. He’s said he won’t run but people can’t stop pointing to the straight-talking New Jersey governor as a possible savior....
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Maybe their wheelchairs can’t go fast enough to run? Otherwise, I’m sure they’d haul them out again.
That said, the list wasn’t entirely bad (they did mention Palin) and probably includes the only possibles.
I still think that Gingrich will probably get it, especially if Romney gets knocked out in MI (which is why Gingrich isn’t campaigning there, so that the conservative vote won’t be divided and can all go to Santorum, who may not be very conservative in a lot of ways but is certainly more so than Romney).
However, if he doesn’t, I’d pick Rubio as the best one from this list, possibly with Palin - if she’s interested, which I’m still not convinced she is.
#1 - hell no, and I even like Jeb a little, but no more Bushes, please
#2 - Maybe. I actually kinda like Daniels, although he’s boring and has some RINO streaks.
#3 - I used to say unelectable, but now, hell, she might be able to do it.
#4 - Sure, but he ain’t running. He is a RINO from hell, but at least he’d make it fun as he took Obama repeatedly to the woodshed.
#5 - OK! too little name recognition though. And he looks like he’s twelve.
#6 - Didn’t he already drop out once?
#7 - I hate to admit this, but Huck’s looking better and better.
#8 - Mixed feelings. Kinda “establishment” for me, but any guy that can remove Tom Daschle from office has some points in his favor. I gave the guy money back in ‘04.
#9 - Works for me, but her approval rating is LOW. I always get nervous about a nominee who has an approval rating under 50% in their current or most recently held office.
#10 - He’d win easily, but there is the NBC issue...
The problems with Marco Rubio remind me of some of the problems with an Obama candidacy in 2008: Inexperienced senator, good orator but hasn’t accomplished much of anything, favored because of his minority status and probably not a natural born citizen, due to a parent or parents not being US citizens at his birth. But other than those few trifling matters, let’s nominate him!
Tim Pawlenty?
Is this guy stoned? Wake he already ran and was rejected before the first vote was cast.
Funny how the comments section posts all blow off Palin as a dimwit and “cannot win”. You would think Obama zombies would love to see her in the race.
I’ll bet Pawlenty is feeling pretty stupid for getting out of the race so early. He should have just gone with a minimal budget and campaigned the hell out of Iowa. If he lost there, fine drop out. Buy why he didn’t even wait until the Iowa caucus is something I’ll never figure out. I kind of liked him at one point though he’s a bit on the boring side. The one thing that did him in for me was when he wouldn’t repeat what he said about Romneycare to Romney’s face at the debates. That told me he wouldn’t be able to stand up to Obama.
Heh, looks like the “usual suspects” once again, for the most part.
Jeb Bush: If he wasn’t a Bush, I could live with Jeb as a candidate. I wouldn’t necessarily be thrilled with him, but I’d take him over Obama or Romney. Trouble is, he is a Bush. Political dynasties are a dangerous thing. I also think the people who continue to hold negative views of Dubya wouldn’t support him based on that alone.
Mitch Daniels: Successful governor and a smart guy. But isn’t strong on the social issues and frankly isn’t very exciting to listen to speak. Good man to have in the administration, but not at the top of the ticket.
Sarah Palin: Oh, how I wish...
Chris Christie: Never happen. His weight alone will probably disqualify him. Politics is about image as much as anything else.
Paul Ryan: I like Ryan a whole lot. He’d be a great veep pick.
Tim Pawlenty: He had his shot at the nomination, and we saw how that worked out.
Huckabee: I enjoy Huck as a tv host. He’s an engaging guy. Not my choice for a nominee, though.
Thune: No opinion
Nikki Haley: It would be a mistake. I like Haley, and think she will develop into quite a force in the GOP, given time. I think she’s a little too green for national politics, though. Better she should stay on as governor and build her resume and networks.
Marco Rubio: Rubio is surely one of the front-runners for the VP spot. He’s young, charismatic, and from a battleground state. His resume is thin, though. Not Obama 2008 thin, but I don’t see him being in serious contention for the top of the ticket at a brokered convention.
How’d Sarah Palin get on that list? I guess they wanted an excuse to say that the Tea Party is dead.
Gingrich Palin.
T-Paw is also a RINO. You need to be a RINO to win the governorship of Minnesota.
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