American politics
The GOP race
Could there be a late entrant?
Dec 8th 2011, 16:12 by Lexington
LIKE most people, I'd been assuming that the Republican field for 2012 was now set, and that the race was henceforth a matter of subtraction, not addition. But such is the flexibility of the nominating system that this may not be true. Take a look at this. Rhodes Cook argues that the elongation of this year's primary timetable makes it theoretically possible for a new presidential candidate to enter late - in early February, say - and still collect enough delegates to win. Mr Cook is not making a prediction, only drawing attention to a possibilty. But he does point to scenarios in which it just might happen:
Should Mitt Romney stumble badly in the January events in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, another establishment Republican could enter the race in early February and still compete directly in states with at least 1,200 of the 2,282 or so GOP delegates. Many of them will be up for grabs after April 1 when statewide winner-take-all is possible. Similarly, should non-Romney alternatives led by Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry fall flat in the January contests, there would be time for the conservative wing of the party to find a new champion to carry its banner through the bulk of the primary season.
In this blog, our Lexington columnist enters America’s political fray and shares the many opinions that don't make it into his column each week. The column and blog are named after Lexington, Massachusetts, where the first shots were fired in the American war of independence.
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A party that is willing to make Newt Gingrich its presidential frontrunner is already scraping the bottom of the barrel. There is no one to ride to their rescue. Obama will likely win, though by less of a margin than last time.
@LaContra
"Pat Buchanan!!!
Is he still alive? He hasn't run for ages!"
Given that Pat is ill at the moment that comment is in very poor taste.
Very poor taste is my forte..... unlike my ability to maintain tabs on the health and welfare of every past American presidential wannabe
I'm kind of hoping to see the GOP nominate a nut, and then have Bloomberg throw his hat into the ring...
A man can dream.
The name you're looking for is Huntsman.
Oh, wait, he's already in the race. Never the less, he's the name you're looking for. He's the non-nut-job, non-Romney-flip-flopper, non-Gingrich-psycho.
@rewt-
And for those sterling qualities he is showing a strong, unwavering two percent.
Maybe Mitch Daniels will change his mind
I'd go for McCain 2000, but not McCain 2008 or 2012.
Oh goody . . . I just can't wait.
Now if George Will endorses Jon Huntsman this afternoon, the Conservatives could have a new champion well before Super Tuesday.
Maybe Chris Christie will run!
"No!"
I guess there's no one else going to run.
And John, Chris Christie endorsed Mitt Romney in October.
@ K.A. I know. I was parodying the fact that they kept badgering him to run, despite the fact that he had clearly stated he was not running multiple times.
The fact is that "technical possibilities" almost never actually come through. A new entrant would have to build up a machine in each of the states before their primaries - which is even less likely. The Republican field is set. The only upset at this point would be an independent entering in the general election.
Just kind of occurred to me that the GOP doesn't have the superstar not running that they usually have. If Colin Powell in 1992 had decided to jump in in February, he might have still won. But I can't think of any Republicans Americans even like, much less love that way.
I'm telling ya Doug...Dan Quayle is the dark horse!
:)
LC, Dan Quayle is spoken for. He endorsed Mitt Romney on Tuesday.
k.a.gardiner
Has Palin endorsed anyone yet?
or
Pat Buchanan!!!
Is he still alive? He hasn't run for ages!
Dust him off and get him out there
or maybe Perot?
Le Contra
I believe Pat Buchanan is alive and well and still (for the moment) employed by MSNBC.
Sure, but not necessarily for President.
And maybe not on purpose.
But who is this man (or woman) of mystery?
"Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry"
Seems to be a name missing. I'm no Paul-ite conspiracy theorist, but sometimes it does get a bit egregious.
Aside from romney that is.
LaContra, one of my favorite memories of your country was a tv talk show where someone came on, ostensibly to defend Dan Quayle and got lost in some good Quayle jokes.
I think that someone could come in in February and need to run the rest of the primaries is making the case that there can't be a late entrant.
The real question is "Is there a non-nut-job ready to run in the Republican party?"
Actually, the real question is "Is there a Republican Party ready to be run by a non-nut-job?"
On the evidence, the "non-nut-jobs" in my party are unlikely to form a majority, or even a plurality, in the nominating process. Sigh.
Someone call Dan Quayle!...his number finally came up