Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Saturday night decision to not seek the Republican nomination for president set the stage in dramatic fashion for former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty official candidacy announcement today.
But the question remains: Will Republicans come to embrace the low-key conservative Pawlenty or will the quest for fresh blood in the race begin anew?
Pawlenty is best positioned to take advantage of Daniels’ surprise decision to not run, citing family concerns. Pawlenty has the fiscal bona fides, Midwestern roots and the campaign organization in place to woo the many influential Republicans who had been gearing up to back Daniels.
But so far, he doesn’t have the sizzle.
“I think people feel like right now that we don’t need nice, we need authoritative,” a Republican strategist and veteran of the winning 2000 and 2004 campaigns of George W. Bush told Power Play. “That’s what I’m waiting to hear.”
The dominant question in the Republican world remains whether any candidate can emerge to block former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s path to the nomination. Romney has deep pockets and has kept a potent campaign organization in place for four years. But conservatives have deep misgivings about his mandatory health insurance plan in the Bay State as well as his position shifts on social issues over the years.
Many in the establishment press continue to look to Romney’s doppelganger, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – a moderate Mormon backed by a massive fortune and high-powered campaign operatives. But Huntsman so far has been a dud with the Republican electorate. But by hitting the trail in New Hampshire, a must-win state for Romney, and preaching the need for a more sophisticated dialogue, he seems to be doing his best to steal base voters from the presumptive frontrunner.
While the Mormon family feud plays out (Huntsman even mocked Romney’s infamous line about enjoying “varmint” hunting), the rest of the party is wondering whether Pawlenty is enough.
Some are rooting for Texas Gov. Rick Perry to take the plunge, while others are reading Arizona real estate listings for signs that Sarah Barracuda is making ready for a campaign in the lower 48. When Rep. Paul Ryan left open a potential candidacy in some future year, his words were instantly parsed for signs of a 2012 run. Reports that the massive Obama dirt-digging machine was snooping into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s past caused some to wonder whether he was about to dive in. And what about Rudy? Giuliani has been cracking the door wider and wider to a 2012 run.
While Newt Gingrich’s campaign is unlikely to recover from his disastrous debut, the rest of the second tier is still looking for a way to break into the big leagues. Tea Party Conservatives continue to swoon for pizza magnate Herman Cainwhile Ron Paul’s libertarian legions are betting that this year is the time when their man goes from being influential to being viable. Rick Santorum avoided Gingrich-style mistakes after a gaffe about John McCain and torture. He’s keeping his head down and building his grassroots. Those considerations, though, will still have to wait until Rep. Michele Bachmann gets into the race. She will soak up a lot of support on the right and Cain, Paul and Santorum may lose their place in line when she makes her decision, likely in the next week.
But the concern is growing in every precinct of the GOP that the hour is getting late. Daniels’ lengthy fan dance delayed the sorting process, but many Republicans now believe the time has come to get serious and start advancing rather than sifting through the universe of all the people who might yet run.
That’s why today is such a big day for Pawlenty. There is a void in the field, a deepening sense of Republican anxiety about the calendar and lots of campaign cash up for grabs. If Pawlenty can deliver on the tough talk he previewed in his announcement video, he has a shot to start locking up supporters.
But the question remains: Will Republicans come to embrace the low-key conservative Pawlenty or will the quest for fresh blood in the race begin anew?
Pawlenty is best positioned to take advantage of Daniels’ surprise decision to not run, citing family concerns. Pawlenty has the fiscal bona fides, Midwestern roots and the campaign organization in place to woo the many influential Republicans who had been gearing up to back Daniels.
But so far, he doesn’t have the sizzle.
“I think people feel like right now that we don’t need nice, we need authoritative,” a Republican strategist and veteran of the winning 2000 and 2004 campaigns of George W. Bush told Power Play. “That’s what I’m waiting to hear.”
The dominant question in the Republican world remains whether any candidate can emerge to block former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s path to the nomination. Romney has deep pockets and has kept a potent campaign organization in place for four years. But conservatives have deep misgivings about his mandatory health insurance plan in the Bay State as well as his position shifts on social issues over the years.
Many in the establishment press continue to look to Romney’s doppelganger, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – a moderate Mormon backed by a massive fortune and high-powered campaign operatives. But Huntsman so far has been a dud with the Republican electorate. But by hitting the trail in New Hampshire, a must-win state for Romney, and preaching the need for a more sophisticated dialogue, he seems to be doing his best to steal base voters from the presumptive frontrunner.
While the Mormon family feud plays out (Huntsman even mocked Romney’s infamous line about enjoying “varmint” hunting), the rest of the party is wondering whether Pawlenty is enough.
Some are rooting for Texas Gov. Rick Perry to take the plunge, while others are reading Arizona real estate listings for signs that Sarah Barracuda is making ready for a campaign in the lower 48. When Rep. Paul Ryan left open a potential candidacy in some future year, his words were instantly parsed for signs of a 2012 run. Reports that the massive Obama dirt-digging machine was snooping into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s past caused some to wonder whether he was about to dive in. And what about Rudy? Giuliani has been cracking the door wider and wider to a 2012 run.
But the concern is growing in every precinct of the GOP that the hour is getting late. Daniels’ lengthy fan dance delayed the sorting process, but many Republicans now believe the time has come to get serious and start advancing rather than sifting through the universe of all the people who might yet run.
That’s why today is such a big day for Pawlenty. There is a void in the field, a deepening sense of Republican anxiety about the calendar and lots of campaign cash up for grabs. If Pawlenty can deliver on the tough talk he previewed in his announcement video, he has a shot to start locking up supporters.
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