I would have included more of the fringe candidates like John Bolton and the other rising stars like Jindal that could run but seem more likely to fight for the VP spot, but the poll options only allow 16 choices. Most of the major candidates came forth around this time in 2007, so we should see some announcements soon.
My votes: I believe Romney and Pawlenty are guaranteed at this point, and I believe Paul and Huckabee are pretty much guaranteed as well. I figure both Barbour and Daniels will run. As they have been close friends for several decades, I bet one drops out early on and shifts his support to the other. I'm betting Barbour stays in longer. Gingrich has talked about it for the past couple of years and I think he'll enter the fray, although I don't think he'll get very far. I do not think Palin will run and I think her supporters will mobilize in favor of Bachmann, who has literally no chance to win a senator's seat or the governor's mansion in Minnesota and has been mentioned as a fringe candidate. I believe Thune will try to run and capitalize on the fact that he upset Daschle in 2004, I don't think his campaign will be very successful though.
Nothing would please me more than to see Bachmann enter this fray. There are no good candidates and she would get a sizable portion of the base just based on her crazy (yes, I am using that word as a noun). Watching the other candidates try to get to her right would be funny in a sad way, as would the immediate sprint for the center by the actual nominee for the general election. I think Bachmann would create must-see TV.
No shot on Palin or Bachmann running. Tragic I know. Gingrich, Romney, Paul, Pawlenty, Huckabee will be the big 5, but Thune is very well-spoken so I'll give him an outside shot.
Gary Johnson, presuming he runs, would be an excellent candidate and should have to deal with mental midgets like Michelle Bachman.
Gary Johnson and Bill Richardson, former New Mexico Governors both, would have my serious consideration.
Santorum is forming an Iowa staff. WASHINGTON -- Though he has not officially declared, former Sen. Rick Santorum is wading into the 2012 presidential race with more gusto than many of his bigger-name potential rivals. And in the crucial state of Iowa -- site of the kickoff caucus vote of the primary season -- Mr. Santorum has picked up two high-profile political strategists to help him out. Mr. Santorum announced Friday that Nick Ryan and Jill Latham of the Concordia Group in Des Moines will be advising his political action committee as he explores a presidential run. Also, Mr. Santorum's media strategist, John Brabender, said the Republican will likely announce the hire of a well-known national political consultant this week. Both Mr. Ryan and Ms. Latham have ties to another likely 2012 candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Ms. Latham was Iowa political director for Mr. Romney's 2008 presidential campaign and Mr. Ryan is the founder of the American Future Fund conservative advocacy group, which has close ties with Mr. Romney. Ms. Latham also is the daughter of ninth-term Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11031/1121853-84.stm#ixzz1CdKAQ34p
Ready for the frontrunner script? Delay. Keep getting paychecks from Fox. Ignore early/fringe entrants. Delay. Keep getting paychecks from Fox. Ignore early/fringe entrants. Delay. Keep getting paychecks from Fox. Ignore early/fringe entrants. Everyone suddenly in at once. Bloodbath.