The 2012 race of GOP hopefuls

The playing field of possible GOP candidates has been dwindling down quickly. Either they announced that they aren’t running, or they’ve had irreparable incidents that have disqualified them. Two years ago, I would have said that then-SC Governor Mark Sanford had it in the bag. I’m not exaggerating when I say he was the darling of the GOP next to Palin. Now, not so much. Here’s a list of the potential candidates I’ve made so far:

Potential candidates who are out
Former SC Governor Mark Sanford: embarrassing behavior surrounding an extra-marital affair disqualified him
Current LA Governor Bobby Jindal: said he will not run, had awkward State of the Union response, questionable fiscal record
IN Rep. Mike Pence: formally announced he will not run for POTUS but has his eye on IN Governor
SD Sen. John Thune: formally announced he will not run for POTUS

Potential candidates who appear to be running, but have slim-to-no-chance
Former MA Governor Mitt Romney – Romneycare
Current IN Governor Mitch Daniels – his “truce” on social issues, sided with Democrats on “Right to Work” bill
Businessman Donald Trump – no political executive experience
Businessman Herman Cain – lacks name recognition, no political executive experience

Potential candidates who appear to be running and have a chance (besides Palin)
Former MN Governor Tim Pawlenty
Current MS Governor Haley Barbour
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton

Current NJ Governor Chris Christie is in a unique position where he has flat out said he will not run several times, but conservatives everywhere are begging for him to. Ann Coulter even said that we'll lose the general if he specifically is not the nominee.

Are there any others you think should be in the list or any mistakes I made? KY Sen. Mitch McConnell? AZ Sen. Jon Kyl? Current TX Governor Rick Perry?

Palin offers support to Sanford

On her Facebook status she wrote (8:45pm CST):

"My heart and prayers are with Governor Sanford and especially his family during this difficult time." - Gov. Sarah Palin

Mark Sanford admits affair, Jerry Taylor needs a hug

Mark Sanford admitted today to having an affair with woman from Argentina he's known for eight years as a "dear friend."

The odd events surrounding this admission, and the lies and coverups associated with it have completely and utterly destroyed his chances of running for president in 2012. Handled differently, this could have been a blip on the radar or a minor speed bump.

First there was the report that he was missing and not answering phones or emails. Then there was his wife saying that she didn't know where he was but wasn't concerned. Then his staff said he was hiking in the Appalachian Mountains because he wanted to take a break from the "tough" legislative session that just ended. Then the FBI spotted him in the Atlanta airport boarding a flight to Buenos Aires.

No governor should disappear like that for a week and without anyone able to contact him. No governor should express that a simple legislative session was so tough that he needed to disappear for a week. What would happen if he were president and an enemy threatened war? Would he head to the beach for a week to think about it? So, this was so much more than an affair announcement. Today's announcement was the culmination of some very odd and disturbing events.

This is a huge, huge story for the GOP and our nominee for 2012. There was a large contingent hanging their hats on Sanford. He had a phenomenal fiscal conservative record in South Carolina. He has an engaging personality and could have had mass appeal as a nominee. He embraced the far right and didn't show RINO tendencies. I thought he could be a good VP pick for Palin, his only fallback being that he (nor Palin) didn't have a strong foreign policy record.

I think our friend Jerry Taylor needs a hug today. During my email exchange with him in February, he said that Mark Sanford was his "hero." Poor, poor Jerry Taylor - he always used Sanford as the example for how Palin should be - who will he have to do that now?

Speculation on Palin's future

I previously wrote that I think Palin will run in 2012 and gave a list of reasons, or "clues" I probably should say, as to why.

This week, the MSM is also speculating on Palin's future and they too think she will run. Some say she won't even run for re-election as governor in 2010 in order to free up time and money for the 2012 bid, taking a nod from Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty. Certainly, Mark Sanford's recent choices will make an impact on this decision as well since he was previously considered a frontrunner.

Palin Likely Prepping for 2012 Presidential Run
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:29 PM
Newsmax
By: David A. Patten

Beltway tongues are starting to wag that Sarah Palin is likely to opt out of a 2010 bid for re-election as Alaska's governor, in order to free herself for a presumed run on the national GOP ticket in 2012.

“There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection,” a prominent former GOP state legislator, Andrew Halcro, told Politico's Andy Barr. “If you’re Palin, once you’ve flown first class, you don’t go back to coach. She’s been to the show and certainly seemed to like it there,” he adds.

Politico also quotes a DC-based Democratic strategist who concludes, "We don't think she's running."

If Palin does bow out, it would free up her time to organize a broader campaign for national office. In so doing, she would appear to be following the course set by conservative GOP Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a frequently touted presidential hopeful.

According to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, no candidate, including Palin, has yet to file the paperwork to toss their hat in the political ring for the Alaska governorship.

Politico quotes a former Palin staff member who estimates there's a 50-50 chance Palin will shoot for another term as governor.

"If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career, it's that she is full of surprises," the source says.

Palin has consistently deflected media inquiries into her future political plans.

Political pundits expect Palin will wait as long as possible – probably until next spring -- to announce her intentions.

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