Huck for Prez in 2012?

Politico Arena Topic: Could Huckabee Win in 2012?

First, Mike Huckabee deserves a lot of credit for defending Michelle Obama and her campaign to decrease childhood obesity in this country and opposing the Limbaugh crowd’s vicious attacks. I do think if he is able to raise enough cash that he would be a formidable contender for the GOP nomination. People forget that in 2008 he lasted longer than any other Republican presidential contender except John McCain. As a former governor from Arkansas, Huckabee has a natural advantage over many other potential Republican candidates in those crucial Southern primary states.

Could he beat President Obama in 2012? Sure it’s possible but almost two years out it’s impossible to predict what will happen. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush was so popular and looked so invincible that most big name Democrats refused to throw their hat in the ring. In 1995, many observers were convinced that Bill Clinton would be a one term president. Well, Bush was beaten by Clinton in 1992 and Clinton rolled on to reelection in 1996.

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Haley to the Rescue

I often wondered why Haley Barbour, the Republican Governor of Mississippi, didn't run for president in 2008. I was more astonished that he was rarely mentioned as a possible VP runningmate for John McCain, a position for which he would have been ideally suited--a governor of a Southern state with loads of Washington experience. As former chair of the RNC from 1993-97, he oversaw the GOP takeover of Congress in 1994; and as co-founder of a successful lobbying firm in 1991, he has strong connections to the GOP establishment. He also was one of the few public officials who was viewed favorably in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as Mississippi fared better relatively than Louisiana in its response and recovery efforts.

In the face of last week's electoral losses, the GOP is now turning to one of its most seasoned pros: Barbour. According to CQ, "Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will meet next week with the Senate Republican Conference to talk about regrouping and developing a strategy to stem the tide of losses the GOP has experienced the past two election cycles, according to Conference chairman Lamar Alexander."

Since the guessing game has now commenced about who in the GOP will run for president in 2012, the same old names are being bandied about: Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal. My question: what about Haley? Barbour was in fact asked about 2012 recently: “Oh, man,” drawled Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, when asked about 2012 and specifically his own interest in a possible presidential run. “I’m going to tell you something. One of the worst things that can happen to the Republican Party in our effort to rebuild is for a bunch of people to start running for president. Anybody harboring that ambition needs to squelch it until after 2010. … Anybody out there running for president is undercutting what’s important. You do this against your own interest.” Sounds like a shrewd answer. Look for him to announce his candidacy shortly after the 2010 midterm election.