In more Iowa buzz, Mike Pence has plans to appear at an event in Cedar Rapids on July 24th. Perhaps he’ll take the role of the obligatory Congressman in the mix of 2012 candidates.
Today, Dick Cheney gave his two cents on possible future Republican presidential candidates:
But I think from the standpoint of the party, we’ve got some great talent out there, young people coming along that are going to do a superb job. I always remind people that in adversity, there’s opportunity. You get people like Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, Rob Portman from Ohio, Jon Huntsman from Utah and so forth. We’ve got some very talented folks coming along. And I think that it’s just a matter of time before the party begins to sort of firm up around a few key individuals, and we’ll hear big things from them in the future.
Unless public opinion shifts dramatically in the near future, Portman would experience tremendous difficulty in overcoming the Scarlet B(ush) opponents would attach to him. Many people have already discussed Huntsman’s viability. I would argue that Ryan holds the most promise of Cheney’s trio. He deserves a prominent role in the party’s rebuilding effort.
As people have mentioned in the comments sections, Gov. Pawlenty has stated that he will accept the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling on the Coleman-Franken ballot battle:
“I’m going to follow the direction of the court,” he said during an appearance on CNN. “We expect that ruling any day now. I also expect them to give guidance and direction as to the certificate of election. I’m prepared to sign it as soon as they give the green light.”
And finally, Politico has published an article detailing how Gov. Romney’s former campaign workers stand ready to mobilize should he decide to run in 2012:
In addition to the full-time employees the former Massachusetts governor has at his Boston-based Free & Strong America PAC, the early primary states and Washington are filled with former staffers and supporters who are in regular contact with one another.
Whenever Romney has a major TV appearance or pens an opinion piece, a PAC staffer, Will Ritter, circulates the news to an e-mail list of the former governor’s extended political family.
The Washington-based alumni have a regular monthly luncheon, are working on another reunion-like event around a 2009 candidate later this year and always make sure their former candidate is briefed on the latest political doings.
When Romney does a high-profile Sunday show like he did yesterday, for example, that means that former communications aides such as Matt Rhoades and Kevin Madden will join PAC spokesman and longtime adviser Eric Fehrnstrom to help prepare their old boss, either in person or over the phone. When he’s delivering a speech, as he did earlier this month on national security, other former campaign officials such as media consultants Russ Schriefer and Stuart Stevens are brought in.
And when the former governor is in Washington for reasons other than a public appearance, an even broader extended network of advisers is often alerted, including such figures as longtime lobbyist and GOP strategist Ron Kaufman.
Romney enjoys an equally strong following in many of the early primary states.
“I’m going be a Mitt guy until he tells me he’s not running for president,” said Jim Merrill, who ran Romney’s New Hampshire primary campaign and said he still gets excited e-mails from local activists every time the former governor is on TV.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Mitt’s running and Mitt’s winning!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I guess it’s time we took Sanford off of the left part of this site…
June 29th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Hmm…Mitt’s healthcare plan worries me the most about him. But aside from that I think he would be pretty good in all other areas despite what his crazy opponents say. Huckabee would never be unfaithful like Huckabee or Sanford, I think he has great qualities. In fact I supported him for about 90 days in the primaries until he started attacking my Faith (although not directly it was just very sly and tricky) and then I had to drop him. If he makes amends I would be in his corner. Palin, I don’t want to criticize her too much, because alot are blindly in love with her. I think she is more of a symbol who would be great at conservative policy if she was in power, but I think she has a high risk of being worse than G.W. in a dress. Sorry Palin-fans but she just gives me that vibe!
June 29th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
1: Why, pray tell, does that show Mitt is winning?
June 29th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
*correction** not Huckabee but Ensign.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I enjoyed Jonathan Martin’s article in the Politico but he left out a crucial point. A point that would have explained the seemingly still active campaign machine.
The point? That anyone who works for and with Romney is soon won over by his integrity and intellect, his even temperedness and professionalism. They become a loyal supporter almost instantly. Those who know him best like him best. Just ask them. Martin writes lengthily about the ongoing campaign network but never discusses why it doesn’t dissemble. If he even asked why it might have been a great article. But He really missed the point.
My democrat boss became aware of my support for Romney. He was from New England but went to Stanford and is living on the west coast. But he has friends back east who worked with Romney at Bain and he asked them about him. These friends of my boss told him what a smart and capable leader Romney was. They confirmed their support for him. It was great to hear because it validated my opinion and support for Romney and garnered some respect from my boss.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Unfortunately, politics is all about winning people superficially first and more substantively later when you are in office. For whatever reasons, Romney’s does not come off well to a significant group (though not large but still significant) when things are all about superficiality.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Well if I was all about superficiality, I probably would have supported the One. Obama is one shallow, empty suit, sweet-talking, good-looking, charming superficial guy. No depth. No intellect. No leadership. Not my type.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Anyone have any idea what will be in Mitt’s book? I wonder if he could get away with admitting changing some of his views to please the religious right. Sort of a “yes I pandered, but America needs a Dr. Phil moment, they need someone to stand up and say we can’t make everybody happy. The best we can do is make sure that our government is fair, accountable, and out of your lives”. It would be really risky but it might win some people over.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Im heading to Iowa! Everyone who goes to Iowa is now a candidate! Me! Me! Me!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:48 am
I have to say the article gave me more doubt that Romney would run than before I read it (when I assumed he was in).
“The consensus among those close to Romney is that his oft-stated mantra about “not closing the door” on a run is about right — he’s watching Obama closely and would be inclined to get in if it seemed like he had a realistic path to victory.”
That’s a pretty big if; right now, Obama’s approval sits above 60 and head-to-heads against Romney (and others) have Obama with a double digit lead. And that quote from what Politico says are those “close to Romney” makes it sound like Mitt would need to see some real potential for change in those numbers to fell it worth it to get in. Maybe we’re all confusing Romney keeping his profile up in case he decides to run and Romney running.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Asparagus.
You mean like the king of pandering, huckabee? Palin does her fair share of pandering too.
Why is it OK for others to change their views, but not Romney. He’s never changed it back either.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Mitt is winning without even getting out of 4th gear. It’s so funny seeing Sarebear and Huck going out 100% and not even beating Mitt in 4th gear.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
42% Say Climate Change Bill Will Hurt The Economy
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/environment/42_say_climate_change_bill_will_hurt_the_economy
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
June 30th, 2009 at 11:10 am
People need to get to know the real Mitt Romney. Something like, I’m not a career politician. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my father and give back. So I sought out advice from some experts. The experts told me, there’s no way a little known Mormon from Massachusetts can win unless you tell people what they want to hear. That’s not how I’ve lived my life. Its not how I’ve run my businesses and its not how I’ve governed. Americans want someone to tell them the truth. The truth is…go on about deficits and spending…
June 30th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Oh,ouh!America has their best leader but they don’t belief their leader any more,so democrats borrowed the Kenya kid as their leader,now he is laughing attacking America around the world and will change America from democracy(a gift from their founding father) to socialism but America still happy and enjoy with him, where America value? the truth America president never attack America(other 43 president)they love America, carry America value, and protect America.Mitt is America real leader,he is the best in all leader America has now,he has the best resume than other,he is the man of character, leadership style,intelligent,integrity,and look presidential,he is the hope of America, love America,represent America family value.what church do you pray,what company do you work, what community do you go, you need go to restaurant first(economy)that person is Mitt,he done it so he can does it for our country too,why we don’t belief him? nothing to compare Mitt and Obama resume,or link to Mrs. Ayer is better? look Obama love the detainee more than America people,he said”the Bush administration is the dark and painful in U.S. history” may be dark and pain Obama and the terrorist but not dark and pain America,because that era the terrorist on the run, they can’t hide,but now they laugh and free.when he speech,he laugh,America don’t know why he laugh? because the Kenya visitor’s kid is the president of greatest country in the world, so where America leader? how do you feel? where is America value? every time he speech,he had blamed America one or two times,he is not speech as America,when the leader attack his people,how the world will respect America? what they look America? so sad America. we have our leader but we don’t respect,we don’t see. So now we have a rising star,he is smart,he is strong, he love America more than him self,he is America real leader,he is our president 2013,that person is Mitt Romney.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Oh,ouh!America has their best leader but they don’t belief their leader any more,so democrats borrowed the Kenya kid as their leader,now he is laughing attacking America around the world and will change America from democracy(a gift from their founding father) to socialism but America still happy and enjoy with him, where America value? the truth America president never attack America(other 43 president)they love America, carry America value, and protect America.Mitt is America real leader,he is the best in all leader America has now,he has the best resume than other,he is the man of character, leadership style,intelligent,integrity,and look presidential,he is the hope of America, love America,represent America family value.what church do you pray,what company do you work, what community do you go, you need go to restaurant first(economy)that person is Mitt,he done it so he can does it for our country too,why we don’t belief him? nothing to compare Mitt and Obama resume,or link to Mr. Ayer is better? look Obama love the detainee more than America people,he said”the Bush administration is the dark and painful in U.S. history” may be dark and pain Obama and the terrorist but not dark and pain America,because that era the terrorist on the run, they can’t hide,but now they laugh and free.when he speech,he laugh,America don’t know why he laugh? because the Kenya visitor’s kid is the president of greatest country in the world, so where America leader? how do you feel? where is America value? every time he speech,he had blamed America one or two times,he is not speech as America,when the leader attack his people,how the world will respect America? what they look America? so sad America. we have our leader but we don’t respect,we don’t see. So now we have a rising star,he is smart,he is strong, he love America more than him self,he is America real leader,he is our president 2013,that person is Mitt Romney.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
The opposite of Romney/Rubio is Biden/Franken. Let’s vote in some competence next round, eh? Save ourselves the worldwide embarrassment that is only just beginning for us now.