(Race42012):
1) Mitt Romney – Gov. Romney remains in the best position to win the GOP nomination, though his potential rivals have taken several strides to catch up with the frontrunner. Many of his future and past opponents have taken aim at his healthcare reform plan, dubbed Romneycare, and have used the national debate on healthcare reform to pound the former Massachusetts Governor. Finding a clear message on Romneycare is Gov. Romney’s first tough task of the 2012 cycle. Still, with a book on the way in early 2010, as well as courting 2008 nominee John McCain for fundraisers will continue to give the impression of Romney as inevitable establishment favorite. Romney, as well as former and current rival Mike Huckabee, proved to have far better political instincts then their potential rivals by staying out of the NY-23 race. The Florida Senate primary, however, may prove to be tougher to avoid.
2) Mike Huckabee – Huckabee continues to poll well while struggling to match his rivals in fundraising. This is Huckabee’s greatest problem; no matter how likable or how well he polls, his inability to raise money when hypothetically matched up against a billion-dollar Obama Machine will make Huck a tough sell for a party that will be desperate to win in 2012. Huckabee’s chances could hinge on whether or not he can find a way to raise money like a candidate at this level should. Still, the charming former Arkansas Governor has shown tougher lines of attacks both on Obama and on his favorite target, Mitt Romney, and their healthcare reforms. A big win at this year’s Values Voters Summit reminded everyone, however, that if Huck runs he will remain a favorite of the evangelical base, perhaps far more so then in 2008. Huckabee, like Romney, showed far better political instincts then other potential rivals in avoiding the NY-23 debacle. But unlike Mitt, Huck has already endorsed Marco Rubio in Florida’s Senate Primary, returning the favor for Rubio’s endorsement in 2008.
3) Tim Pawlenty - Minnesota’s governor has made some significant moves in his pursuit of the 2012 nomination. He has created a PAC, Freedom First, and announced several major hires from previous campaigns. He has also taken direct aim at both Barack Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s healthcare plan, likely to be a favorite line of attack as Pawlenty sets out to overtake 2012 frontrunner Mitt Romney. With two terms as a conservative governor of a blue state, an inspiring life story, a finalist for Vice President in 2008, and a slew of positions on issues that line up with all corners of the GOP base, Pawlenty is fast becoming the alternative to Mitt Romney among the establishment. His virtual tie with Governor Romney at the Values Voters Summit, a poll Romney won the last several years, shows just how fast Pawlenty is rising. T-Paw’s endorsement of Hoffman in NY-23 continues a pattern of the governor tacking to the right, gearing up for a fight in 2012. Hoffman’s loss does not hurt Pawlenty as much as others, such as Palin and Gingrich, due to Pawlenty’s low name recognition. Still, T-Paw did not gain much from the special election, and will need to continue to find new ways to stay relevant in the national discussion. Opting out of the Obamacare public option might be next on the to-do-list.
1) Mitt Romney – Gov. Romney remains in the best position to win the GOP nomination, though his potential rivals have taken several strides to catch up with the frontrunner. Many of his future and past opponents have taken aim at his healthcare reform plan, dubbed Romneycare, and have used the national debate on healthcare reform to pound the former Massachusetts Governor. Finding a clear message on Romneycare is Gov. Romney’s first tough task of the 2012 cycle. Still, with a book on the way in early 2010, as well as courting 2008 nominee John McCain for fundraisers will continue to give the impression of Romney as inevitable establishment favorite. Romney, as well as former and current rival Mike Huckabee, proved to have far better political instincts then their potential rivals by staying out of the NY-23 race. The Florida Senate primary, however, may prove to be tougher to avoid.
2) Mike Huckabee – Huckabee continues to poll well while struggling to match his rivals in fundraising. This is Huckabee’s greatest problem; no matter how likable or how well he polls, his inability to raise money when hypothetically matched up against a billion-dollar Obama Machine will make Huck a tough sell for a party that will be desperate to win in 2012. Huckabee’s chances could hinge on whether or not he can find a way to raise money like a candidate at this level should. Still, the charming former Arkansas Governor has shown tougher lines of attacks both on Obama and on his favorite target, Mitt Romney, and their healthcare reforms. A big win at this year’s Values Voters Summit reminded everyone, however, that if Huck runs he will remain a favorite of the evangelical base, perhaps far more so then in 2008. Huckabee, like Romney, showed far better political instincts then other potential rivals in avoiding the NY-23 debacle. But unlike Mitt, Huck has already endorsed Marco Rubio in Florida’s Senate Primary, returning the favor for Rubio’s endorsement in 2008.
3) Tim Pawlenty - Minnesota’s governor has made some significant moves in his pursuit of the 2012 nomination. He has created a PAC, Freedom First, and announced several major hires from previous campaigns. He has also taken direct aim at both Barack Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s healthcare plan, likely to be a favorite line of attack as Pawlenty sets out to overtake 2012 frontrunner Mitt Romney. With two terms as a conservative governor of a blue state, an inspiring life story, a finalist for Vice President in 2008, and a slew of positions on issues that line up with all corners of the GOP base, Pawlenty is fast becoming the alternative to Mitt Romney among the establishment. His virtual tie with Governor Romney at the Values Voters Summit, a poll Romney won the last several years, shows just how fast Pawlenty is rising. T-Paw’s endorsement of Hoffman in NY-23 continues a pattern of the governor tacking to the right, gearing up for a fight in 2012. Hoffman’s loss does not hurt Pawlenty as much as others, such as Palin and Gingrich, due to Pawlenty’s low name recognition. Still, T-Paw did not gain much from the special election, and will need to continue to find new ways to stay relevant in the national discussion. Opting out of the Obamacare public option might be next on the to-do-list.
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