With that in mind, how are things looking for the current state of Republican governors? Coming out of the 2008 cycle, there were a number of contenders for the crown, largely drawn from McCain's list of prospective running mates. But less than a year later, they've all imploded spectacularly.
Most notably, of course, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin just shat all over damnherself and came rushing to the cameras to tell us about the delicious pudding she found. But she's not alone. Louisiana's Bobby Jindal crippled himself with the Kenneth the Page speech he gave at the start of the year, while South Carolina's Mark Sanford horndogged his chances away with the Argentinian telenovela.
There was a deep bench behind those erstwhile frontrunners, but they've been decimated too. Texas's Rick Perry got involved in wild-eyed secession talk and is now facing a tough re-election fight against Kay Bailey Hutchison. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty has seen his stock plummet to nothingness as he became embroiled in the Coleman-Franken Senate fight. Nevada's Jim Gibbons makes Sanford and Palin look sane. California's Arnold Schwarzeneggar can't run for president, of course, but he was considered a bright star in the party, and now he's practically a pariah.
There were others out there -- the seemingly sane ones -- but they've largely been taken off the chess board. Utah's Jon Huntsman represented a real hope for a new direction in the party, but he just joined the Obama administration as ambassador to China, while Florida's Charlie Crist is eyeing the Senate seat there and sees no love from the conservative base.
So, who's left? Some former governors like Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, of course. But from the current crop, who's going to emerge? Idaho Governor Butch Otter?
6 comments:
The talk amongst Michigan GOPers is Mitt again. But they could be biased, seeing as he is a Michigan native of sorts.
Yeah, I think with Palin and Sanford imploding, the 2012 nomination is going to be Mitt's fairly easily.
Sure, he'll face some challenges from Huckabee with the evangelicals, but the corporate folks will line up behind him right away.
Which Mitt's going to run? The liberal Senate candidate, the moderate governor, or the conservative presidential candidate?
Or is flip-flopping only a problem when it's a democrat?
I think Crist and / or Ridge will be the selection. I think the numbers will still hinge on PA or FL and they can scare straight the fundamentalist .
Look for a "Good Morning America" to the millionth power. Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan....
What about JEB? It's been a few months since a Bush has been in the White House.
Oddly enough, Butch Otter is my porn name.
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