Meet The Candidates: 2012 GOP Thread

So there's some speculation out there that Rick Perry might be making a move to get in the race, he has close ties with a few of these guys.

This really puts him in a bind with the next debate right around the corner. Talk about being left high and dry.

Besides Newt being a loser of epic proportions, this might signal another dark horse jumping into the race or they're defecting to another campaign. Maybe Michelle Bachmann or Pawlenty? She'll be strong in Iowa.

It's hard out there being pimp.Not sure what the end-game target is with him and Palin. Their negatives, even within the GOP, are too high for a serious run at POTUS. I can understand wanting to influence the policy debate, or maybe jump on a ticket as a VP, but a POTUS run ain't cheap.

So there's some speculation out there that Rick Perry might be making a move to get in the race, he has close ties with a few of these guys.Why? He could be the President of the Texas Federation of States. :)

Not sure what the end-game target is with him and Palin. Their negatives, even within the GOP, are too high for a serious run at POTUS. I can understand wanting to influence the policy debate, or maybe jump on a ticket as a VP, but a POTUS run ain't cheap.

It ain't cheap and it ain't easy. I think there's some jockeying going on with jobless claims still high (400k), which might signal we're in for another rough unemployment figure next cycle. If that's the case, it's now or never for the guys on the fence. The Rudys, the Rick Perrys, and the Palins of the world.

Rick Perry would carry Texas easily and then some, plus he's got that good old boy Texas swag. TPaw, Romney, Huntsman -- none of them quite have that appeal, if that makes sense.

Sarah Palin is in weird corner politically. She can't afford, and can't stand, for the spotlight to be on someone else for too long, but she can't risk jumping in the race and getting her ass handed to her in Iowa. But one thing is for sure, she can't just parachute into the campaign like she did in 2008 and expect voters to genuflect and get behind her. She's going to have to earn it.

This smells more and more like Rick Perry as I type.

Update on Newt's campaign, more good news:

BREAKING: Gingrich campaign aides resign – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/09/breaking-gingrich-campaign-aides-resigns/)

Rick Perry would carry Texas easily and then some, plus he's got that good old boy Texas swag. TPaw, Romney, Huntsman -- none of them quite have that appeal, if that makes sense.absolutely makes sense, I expect he would do well in FL and NC, not sure about Ohio/Indiana

Sarah Palin is in weird corner politically. She can't afford, and can't stand, for the spotlight to be on someone else for too long, but she can't risk jumping in the race and getting her ass handed to her in Iowa. But one thing is for sure, she can't just parachute into the campaign like she did in 2008 and expect voters to genuflect and get behind her. She's going to have to earn it. She needs to be an attack dog/cheerleader/fundraiser for the GOP candidate through the election, then get a nice ambassadorship or a talk show on Fox. The only benefit she brings for the GOP if she's in the primaries is to attract and absorb slings/arrows from the left making the eventual candidates path slightly smoother through the primaries.

So there's some speculation out there that Rick Perry might be making a move to get in the race, he has close ties with a few of these guys.

Yeah Perry, and some folk still really want Chris Christie to run

Update on Newt's campaign, more good news:

BREAKING: Gingrich campaign aides resign – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/09/breaking-gingrich-campaign-aides-resigns/)

Good news if you think Gingrich was going to cause a bigger stir than Rick Perry, which I'm not so sure about right now. Rob Johnson was Newt's campaign manager (and former Perry aide), who just quit. A possible return to Perry's side for the yet to be announced Perry presidential bid?

Texas Governor Rick Perry "serious" about White House bid - sources - Political Hotsheet - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20070378-503544.html#ixzz1OoSRIIuK)

Yeah Perry, and some folk still really want Chris Christie to run

I think they'd be formidable on the same ticket (especially given geography), but I doubt that happens.

The hallmark of a good candidate is the ability to win their home state. I am not convinced T-Paw, Palin, Romney, and Christy could win their state.