With the 2008 presidential
election over, it’s time to look
ahead to 2012 and analyze
who Republicans could possibly
run for the nomination to
oppose Barack Obama. After
four years out of power, the
Republicans will undoubtedly
be foaming at the mouth
for another shot to knock the
Democrats out of the White
House.
The Republicans will have a
tough decision to make in
who to nominate. Do they go
with a classic conservative to
appeal to their base, or do
they once again go with
someone who fancies themselves
a maverick to appeal to
independents? Their decision
could ultimately determine
which path the GOP takes in
the future.
Former Arkansas Gov.
Mike Huckabee has been all
over TV lately despite losing
the 2008 Republican nomination.
He has his own talk
show on FOX News and has
started a book tour in Iowa,
where the first nominating
contest will take place in
January 2012. He’s the classic
social conservative with some
independent views on economic
issues.
But the odds are against
him. He will have not been in
any type of political office for
six years by the time 2012
comes around.
Next on the list is former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney. Despite losing the
nomination, Romney has
been piling up the political
capital thanks to his stalwart
support of Sen. John McCain
and from his raising money
for congressional
Republicans. However,
Romney’s longtime adviser,
Charley Manning, does not
think that Romney will run.
“I’d be surprised if Mitt ever
ran again for president.I
sure don’t think it was the
best experience of his life,”
Manning said on the Hank
Morse Show on 96.9 FM in
Boston. “There are other
things he can do.” It’s going
to be interesting to see if
Romney does indeed bow
out, and if it’s because of
American prejudice against
Mormonism.
How can we even discuss
the 2012 election without
mentioning 2008 Vice
Presidential nominee Gov.
Sarah Palin? The governor of
Alaska has already been all
over the airwaves talking
about how she “might run” in
2012. The interesting thing is
her run could all depend on
whether or not Alaska Sen.
Ted Stevens wins reelection
and is ousted from the Senate
for his crimes. In this situation,
a special election would
be held where Palin is expected
to run and win a term as a
U.S. Senator.
This would, no doubt, be
enough experience and credentials
to propel her to a
presidential run.
The first of the real dark
horses is Louisiana Gov.
Piyush “Bobby” Jindal.
Having only been elected to
the governor’s mansion this
year, Jindal will certainly
have plenty of time to establish
himself as one of the better
young governors in the
country. He’s extremely conservative
and fits the
Republican mold as a compassionate
conservative. He
would also be the first Indian-
American to run for president
of a major political party.
Imagine, the first African-
American president facing off
against the first Indian-
American Republican nominee.
Finally, we reach two
potential candidates that are
unlikely, but possible. Former
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would
have been a strong candidate
this year if it weren’t for his
brother’s failures.
Should the country forget
about their hatred for
President George W. Bush,
Jeb could have a fine shot at
the nomination. Let’s also not
forget that 29 percent of people
still like Bush, though
that’s mostly Republican primary
voters.
Finally, we reach the most
unlikely of them all –
Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice. The Secretary of State
said she was “proud” to see
Obama win the presidency,
but that doesn’t mean she’ll
be changing her party anytime
soon. Rice, who is well
respected by conservatives,
would be the first African-
American to have a realistic
shot at the Republican nomination
if she were to run (I
apologize to Alan Keyes, but
come on).
A Rice vs. Obama matchup
would be one to remember
and it would be interesting to
see how the African-
American and female vote
would split in that situation.
As of Nov. 17, there are
only 1,448 days until Election
Day 2012. That’s just under
four years to decide who will
take the Republican Party by
the horns-or the tusks-and
lead them on to a new
decade. Will it be the stalwart
political veterans like
Huckabee, Bush or Romney?
Or will the younger, more
diverse Republicans like
Jindal and Rice take the reins?
One thing is for sure, the
Republican Party is in a fit of
Obama-like change.