Potential Republican Presidential Contenders 101
Posted: January 13, 2011 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Republican presidential politics | Tags: Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Ginrich, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty 22 Comments
Just a few items came to light today on future presidential contenders from the Republican Party. (Be afraid. Be very afraid.) Three of them are in the news today for something other than discussion concerning ramped up rhetoric.
First up, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty makes a pledge to repeal DADT. In this video, Pawlenty self identified as a ‘social conservative’ to right wing talk show host and spokesjerk for the American Family Association Bryan Fischer. Bryan Fischer is a well known for his hate speech and “openly hostile bigotry against gays, Muslims, and all those who do not share his radical worldview”. The video and article come via People For The American Way.
Pay attention closely or read the transcript because you’ll hear Pawlenty use all the code words like “strict constructionist” for a discussion of Roe v. Wade. If you are not familiar with the winks and nods that extreme right wing candidates use to signal how extreme they really are to their key constituencies, you really should take the time to learn.
The Grand Forks Herald announces the governor is undecided but is just touring around promoting his book. Does any one else see a theme here? Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have also been touring around the country fund raising and getting some face time using book tours. I am definitely sensing a theme here. Pawlenty says his book highlight his ‘faith’. He has a blue collar upbringing and has republican populists roots like Palin and would have to fight Huckabee and Palin for the religious right/’Reagan Democrat’ crowd.
Little known compared to rivals Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and others, Pawlenty uses the book to trace a path from a boyhood handling rotten meat in a stockyards town to a political career that made him a vice presidential contender in 2008.
And Pawlenty, who was raised Catholic and later converted to an evangelical church with Baptist roots, heavily emphasizes religion. It’s befitting a book from Christian publisher Tyndale House Publishers and a possible political calculation for someone sizing up a White House bid since ruling out a third term as governor.
Social conservatives have an outsized voice in the GOP nominating process, especially in Iowa, where Pawlenty has focused much of his campaign-building work.
An entrance poll done during the 2008 Iowa caucuses found that more than half of the Republicans who turned out described themselves as evangelical Christians, and more than eight in 10 of caucus winner Mike Huckabee‘s supporters described themselves as born again or evangelical.
I’m sensing we’re going to get heavily doused with that old time religion as we get closer to the Iowa primaries. Can some one hand these people a copy of the constitution and tell them to stop skipping number 1 in favor of number 2?
Another possible Republican candidate is the corporate ex-CEO of the pizza chain Godfather’s. I used to hang out on Fridays afternoons with the University of Nebraska’s University Women’s Action Group at Godfather’s when it was the second location of two pizza parlors run by one man. Herman Caine now lives in Georgia and is a popular talk show host. (Do all of these right wingers eventually do a stint as talk show hosts?)
The announcement came on his website, where Cain wrote:
“The American Dream is under attack. In fact, a recent survey found 67% of the American People believe America is headed in the wrong direction. Sadly, this comes as no surprise to those of us who have watched an out-of-control federal government that spends recklessly, taxes too much and oversteps its Constitutional limits far too often.”
Cain, an African-American Republican, holds a master’s degree in computer science from Purdue University and was a corporate vice president for Burger King before running Godfather’s Pizza. Previously, he served as chairman of the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — and was chairman of the board for the National Restaurant Association.
Caine has been omnipresent in Republican Fund raising. Does he have an appeal outside the business base? That will be a big question. He’s got far more gravitas than most of the other Republicans that are running since he’s always held a job outside of politics. Folk are implying that he may have a solid base in the conservative blogosphere. Frankly, I think he’d be a formidable candidate. I’ve heard him talk back when he took over Godfather’s and back in his Fed Days too. Those were business talks but he knows his stuff.
But though Cain has himself admitted that he would be a “dark horse” candidate, he will be greatly aided by the fact that he is a full-spectrum conservative with solid fiscal and social credentials. Christian conservatives love him, and The Club for Growth endorsed him for Senate in 2004. Cain is also close with fiscal conservative and two-time presidential candidate Steve Forbes. Depending on the field, there is great potential for him to rally conservative activists and bloggers to his cause.
For months now, Cain has been rumored to be seriously considering a presidential run. Perhaps not coincidentally, RedState’s Erick Erickson recently announced the launch of a new radio show, “The Erick Erickson Show” on Atlanta’s WBS radio — a station which also broadcasts Cain’s popular radio show.
Finally, we’re seeing Romney solidifying his campaign to move the helmet hair tradition of the Richie Rich side of Republican party forward in this RCP piece. He’s hiring staff.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has secured both a pollster and a political director for his near-certain presidential bid this coming cycle, according to sources connected to Romney’s 2008 presidential effort.
Rich Beeson, a Republican operative who has worked as a political director at the Republican National Committee and was most recently a partner at the voter contact firm FLS Connect, will be Romney’s political director. Beeson has already moved his family to Massachusetts for his new role.
A GOP source who worked against Romney in the last campaign said Beeson was a savvy hire for Romney’s team, as he brings an outsider perspective to Romney’s Boston inner circle.
Romney’s political director for his last bid was Carl Forti, who now has a high-profile job at the Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie GOP group, American Crossroads.
There’s no news up today on Gingrich but you can be assured that ol’ Georgia Bull Dog is up to something. It’s going to be an interesting few years.
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You got nothing here for Haley Babar?
He opened an office in Iowa in like 2009? Ha!
Babar’s Roladex is bigger than God’s. Jindal will rank Babar’s Zephir at best.
Ahem, rockin’youz.
I think Haley’s comet lost its tail when he said those Citizen’ Councils were just plain Mayberry folks but maybe not. He must be laying low for awhile.
Newt is in Myrtle Beach tonite addressing SC business leaders. The republicans here do not understand the “tentativeness” of the 2012 campaign in that no one is officially announcing.
Ah, knew the Newster had to be around some where out there …
The next time Republicans have a seriously viable candidate, they’ll wipe the floor with Democrats.
I know that’s not much of a prediction but there it is.
If they can find a national-level Scott Brown, forget about it.
The problem is Scott Brown would never come up through the primaries in places like Nebraska and Louisiana. They have litmus tests there for abortion, gay rights, and all the social issues. It would have to be some one really gifted like a republican version of Bill Clinton to get the people not in the nutroots into the primary. There’s tons of those kinds of states … Kansas, Mississippi, Utah, etc. The nutroots have just overrun the party.
I know, exactly! That’s why I said national-level Scott Brown. He’s fine for MA but like you said the litmus test in other states is very different.
There’ll be someone. I only hope it isn’t the devil.
I think the republicans in SC have correctly picked the national candidate in the last 5 primary cycles here. I haven’t seen the primary schedule yet…. but believe SC is still currently first. So those litmus tests of abortion, gay rights, etc… are defnitely front and center.
You know, I think it is like when you are driving and it starts to rain a little, nobody wants to put their windshield wipers on first…so you just wait. When the first one announces he/she is running, all the others will turn their wipers on full blast!
great metaphor!!!
OT: Sheesh, Michelle Obama should’ve given that speech last night …
This short letter to parents on the WH sight is short and full of moving and inspirational thoughts.
I think you are right Kat, Michelle Obama is putting this entire situation in her own context. She is taking it all personal because she has two daughters around the same age as Christina Green. It hits home with her. Wish I could say the same for the husband.
A Herman Cain run is intriguing to me. Living in Atlanta, I’ve listened a few times to parts of his radio show and find him well-spoken with a sense of humor, a kind of southern gentleman with good business experience. He is very conservative and has spoken at many tea party events but doesn’t claim affiliation, if I understand correctly. I find him interesting as he would be a new face, would perhaps inspire the African-American Republicans to speak out, and would be strong competition for Obama. Thinking of all the other tired, boring characters, Cain might well have a chance. Of course, how would Obama play the r-card?
(Oh, please come back, Hillary!)
I am suffering from the vapors already and most have yet to make an official announcement.
No, I do not wish to hear about their religious leanings. I do not care what church they go to, which saint appeals to them, how often they pray, or which “religous adviser” they count on to help them through life.
I don’t care if they have God on Speedial, Tweeter or Facebook. I am getting migraines already just knowing this horse manure is going to be played up heavier than last time when they all made their pilgrimage to genuflect at the knee of Rick Warren.
I can’t begin to express my revulsion concerning their beliefs, bible teachings, prayer group meetings, and their “personal relationship with the Lord”. Enough of this useless blather that has no place in the political arena made up of atheists, skeptics, Jews, Muslims, and quiet people who choose the right course and do not wear this crapola on their sleeves.
Stifle it!!!
I’m looking for portents and signs of Jeb Bush being snuck under the radar …
I’m not even sure the Rs think Jeb could beat Obama. 2016 is likely when he’ll pop up again! Of course, they’re all working toward the same goals now, so who knows.
Here’s my picks for who will throw their hats into the ring:
1. Pawlenty
2. Mittens
3. Huckabee
4. Barbour
5. Jindahl
6. Gingrich
7. Palin
I give you the 7 Dwarfs, each more “religious” than the other.
(Waiting in the wings should this group gobble one another up: Jeb, Santorum, Bachmann,Rubio, Guiliani)
The VP will most assuredly be a woman so my money is on either Nicki Haley or Liz Cheney.
Start your engines.
That’s a good list. Santorum is serious. Rubio has said no, i think? What about Pence?
DK: No comment about our own lil Bobby?
I’m sure he could get all kinds of comments from residents of Louisiana, all the way from college students in the state colleges, to the lege, to the folks who are on medicaid. I’m sure folks from each of those groups would give him glowing recommendations…if he was in the state! 😉
And Thune?
yeah, he’s been on the road testing the headwinds too … good one
I keep seeing Condoleeza Rice on TV and at various sporting events. It makes me wonder about whether or not she might make a run at some point or they might be considering her for Veep.