(June 8, 2009 - Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)
In an interview with CSPAN yesterday, Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich discussed the 2012 presidential election and whether he will be in it. While he said he had no “personal ambition” to run, he did say that in February he and his wife would determine if there was a “need” for his candidacy. He also gave a rundown of the potential GOP candidates and even included Sarah Palin stating that she could be a viable candidate ”if she does well on Oprah as well as her book tour.” I love that we hold celebrity in such high regard now in the GOP, but I digress. The rest of his list included Haley Barber (1994 RNC Chairman), Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota Governor), Mitch Daniels (Governor Indiana), Mitt Romney (Former Governor/Business Executive), and Governor / Personality Mike Huckabee. A recent poll showed that the Fox News character Huckabee was the projected front-runner if the race began today. Lets be thankful the race does not in fact begin today.
Newt has clearly had better weeks and better months that he has recently, but I am not fully committed to giving up on this once great conservative. He made a terrible decision to back Scozzafava in NY23, but one bad decision does not a liberal man make. I am not sure that his candidacy is exactly what the Party needs at the current hour, but his nomination would surely ignite the Party’s base. Throw in Palin as his running mate and you may have a preview of Obama-Biden’s next opponent. I would much prefer to find a new face between now and 2012 as opposed to returning to the glory of ’94, but if we must choose between ’94 and Huckabee, McCain, Paul, and a host of other re-runs, I’ll take Newt.
Am I wrong or would you have supported this before last week>?
Chances would have been a lot better than this week – yes. Still would take him over Palin but thats an entirely different issue and hopefully one I will not have to deliberate upon.
I would like to see this come to play. 1994 was a fine year. I would like to see it relived in 2012. I am pulling for him.
Why not Huckabee? Though I will admit I don’t know a lot about Pawlenty, I will say I value a successful executive of a legislator any day. Huckabee was the best one running in 08.
See the bottom of this post… http://republicanredefined.com/2009/10/17/huckabee-ahead-polls/
But in all seriousness. He is the “front-runner” if the election were held today. That has to mean something. I happen to think it means people like his show, but I digress….
Huckabee is entertaining and a great pundit, but he just doesn’t hold water as a legitimate candidate. I like him as a man and even as a pundit, but as a candidate think he is right up there with Palin as a sideshow. Thompson was the best horse in the race in ’08. The only problem was that someone forgot to tell him it was a thoroughbred race rather than a walking horse show. He never got out of the gate. I like Huck for a lot of reasons, but not enough to ever cast a vote for him.
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[...] that tend to drive traditional polling spoon fed to those of us on the Right in regards to “our choice” for 2012 candidate. If you recall, they usually show Huckabee and Palin at or near the [...]