First Poll of 2012 Season Confirms Romney as Frontrunner
We’re down to just a handful of days until American voters will pick between Barack Obama and John McCain for the position of our next President. But with an Obama landslide looking increasingly likely, many Republicans are already turning their focus toward 2012, and who will be selected to lead a Republican Revival.
A three-decade old rule in party says that the runner-up in a primary contest should be the nominee in the next open election. Reagan was second in ‘76 and won in ‘80, Bush was second in ‘80 and won in ‘88, Dole was second in ‘88 and won in ‘96, and McCain was second in ‘00 and won in ‘08. Note that Pat Buchananwas second in ‘96, but choose not to run in 2000. There are some who believed, or perhaps hoped, that 2008 would break that tradition and allow Sarah Palin to become the Republican nominee in four years, but that isn’t happening. A new Newsweek poll - likely the first of the 2012 season - puts Sarah Palin in third place, behind Mike Huckabee. At the front of the pack? None other than Gov. Mitt Romney, who is able to claim a 9% lead in a three-way race.
Newsweek 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination
Mitt Romney 35%
Mike Huckabee 26%
Sarah Palin 20%
A nine-point lead isn’t enough to let us kick back for the next three years, but its a good starting point. I’ll have more out later about this, and what the Republican Party needs to do over the next two years to win in 2012.
October 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I don’t take too much stock in early polls like this as many things can change between now and 2012.its good to see though that mitt could have an early leg up.Gives me something to shoot for over the next 4 years
October 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
It will be interesting to see if Palin can take hold. If Mitt does choose to run again, he will have to deal with Iowa. Everybody knew him in Iowa, but Huck walked away with the state. What happened there, and how can it be prevented? He could do what McCain did, and ignore Iowa and put his resources in New Hampshire. Then he will have to deal with South Carolina, who really, really hate Mormons. The primary system is such a —-ing mess.
October 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Interesting article over at T-hall saying that the losing ticket is not necessarally set up as the front runner for the next election. So, for the handfull of idiots pushing Palin as the next Sent-From-God candidate, are full of cotton candy. History shows that the losing veep candidate (in all but one case) does NOT become president.
October 25th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Well, even a tiny silver lining on those storm clouds ahead is better than nothing. At least this time Mitt won’t have to spend a fortune getting name recognition, he has it. We just have to focus on getting his many accomplishments out there and convincing him to give it one more shot.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:35 am
I concure with Bigmo.
Unless Obama surprises us all by moving to the center and then survives the liberal backlash, there will be lots of work for a great leader to do to resurrect the conservative coalition.
One- or two-issue TheoCons will not be able to do it.
We will need a comprehensive, well-rounded, accomplished leader and right now Mitt is the best option.
And as Bigmo says, this time he won’t have to waste a lot of time and money getting his name out there.
The rest is up to us to show people that Mitt’s pluses far outweigh his few minor negatives that people made such a mountain out of a mole hill about.
After the McCain/Palin train wreck, that might be a lot easier to do.