By: Inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/
The time has come for many in the Republican Party to begin seriously considering the 2012 presidential election. By this time last year, President Barack Obama had just announced his candidacy. Soon the shadow campaign will begin in earnest, and then the real campaign several months after that, just before the Iowa primary.
Here are three of the strongest Republicans who could challenge Mr. Obama:
More below.
1) Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts
Mr. Brown may be the single most politically skilled individual in the entire Republican Party. He pulled a shocking upset over Democrat Martha Coakley, continues to retain extremely strong favorables, and looks likely to run a very competitive Senate race in 2012. All this while being many times more conservative than the average person in one of America’s most liberal states.
That takes skill.
Indeed, if this Republican ran for president, he’d probably have a decent chance of winning Massachusetts. Mr. Brown is a hero to Tea Partiers; at the same time there has been nothing so far that cuts against him negatively. And, in an era where looking good matters more than ever, Mr. Brown – as his Cosmopolitan photo shoot implies – certainly has the looks nailed down (he’s certainly going to need them, going against a man who can do this).
2) Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey
Mr. Christie is the popular governor of New Jersey, applauded by many Republicans for cutting spending and taking the fight full-hilt to the teacher’s unions. Media coverage of his agenda has been extremely positive so far, and his aggressive, blunt answers at town halls have draw much support on Youtube.
Compared to individuals such as Mr. Romney or Ms. Palin (or Mr. Brown, for that matter), the governor’s established record is far superior.
Mr. Christie’s weakness might lie in the realm of political skills. He was expected to win beat Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine in the gubernatorial race by double-digits; in the end Mr. Corzine made it quite close. While popular in New Jersey, the governor is hated by liberals and Democrats. And he doesn’t look presidential – or, to put it less nicely, he’s too fat.
3) Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
Mr. Rubio made an explosive rise in 2010. Starting out as a literal nobody, he succeeded in forcing out heavy favorite Charlie Crist in the Republican primary – and then winning a three-person senatorial race with ease.
The senator’s Hispanic origins help in the diversity realm, and he tells a great story about his immigrant parents. Moreover, Mr. Rubio has the rare ability to make people on opposite sides of an issue believe that he is with them and against the other side. He would be a formidable candidate.
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There is one similarity between each of these candidates: they bear a strong resemblance to Mr. Obama, whatever their political differences.
Many in the Republican Party look at their current field and do not see much. Each candidate – Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour – has serious weaknesses. None excites as Mr. Obama does.
But these Republicans are thinking too narrowly. The Republican Party has plenty of young, attractive, and politically savvy politicians. It’s just that most pundits haven’t imagined them running for president.
Perhaps Republicans ought to do a non-conservative thing: start looking outside the box.
will probably not win MA. They like him as a Senator, but he likely wouldn’t vote for him for President.
And Marco Rubio was not a “nobody”. He was the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. And winning slightly less than 50% in a really good year for your party in a GOP-leaning swing state doesn’t scream “great skill”.
1. Is Brown really that skilled or just fortunate? He won against a very inept opponent and has been able to stay in the background since being elected. Whatever his skills are, circumstance is what has benefited him the most. In a Presidential race, he’d have to actually take a hard stand on the issues, which would put him in a whole different light.
2. Christie’s abrasiveness is a plus with his supporters, but that can be a negative with others. Contrast that with President Obama who is the opposite, many swing voters may choose calmness as opposed to abrasiveness.
3. Rubio doesn’t have the clout yet to build a Presidential campaign. Obama made an impression by giving an impressive speech at the DNC and that made people take notice of him before he even won his Senate race. Rubio hasn’t stood out on that level yet.
As for him being Hispanic, it may move the numbers a couple of points, but not anything significant. Issues drive the Hispanic vote, more than heritage.
he is starting to lose some of the tea party support that he once had. They are doubting many of his “moderate” voting patterns.
http://www.politico.com/news/s…
He claims to be pro-choice.
I know he’s a phenomenon right now, but I just really get the sense that he’s a total lightweight who’s been given a free pass so far, and once he’s exposed to even a little bit of scrutiny he will fold like a cheap suit. This is part of why I’m more skeptical than most of his chances next year.
But even if he can keep his shtick going and pull out re-election next year, I think he’d be exposed on the national stage. Maybe he could be someone’s VP, since I don’t think he’d have a Palin-esque meltdown (he’s not THAT lightweight…), but I think Pres is out of the question. Not to mention the problem of getting through the primary.
I think Christie will run eventually (probably not this year). He’s more substantial than brown, but he’s also a shameless asshole and while that sort of thing appeals to his base of fans, it would put most people off.
Rubio is probably the biggest threat down the road. But a lot depends on how he does as Senator. He’s definitely the most talented of the three, IMO. He didn’t get the free ride that Scott Brown got.