Word: republicanness
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While both Romney and Pawlenty have their eyes squarely on the 2012 nomination, with active travel and media schedules and plans to campaign as Republican candidates in the midterms, they are well behind past early starters in establishing presidential operations. John Edwards, for example, launched his aggressive run shortly after Bush won re-election in 2004, heading immediately to first-in-the-nation voting states, planting stakes in Iowa, seeking key endorsements and carving out policy areas like his pet theme of poverty. There has been no comparable activity this cycle, suggesting a certain ambivalence within the potential Republican field...
Meanwhile, the other most talked-about Republican names - Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich - are cannily leaving the door open for a run, but are spending far more time on personal profitmaking enterprises than presidential campaign foundation building. And Republican élites are just as ambivalent about this trio. Palin, Huckabee and Gingrich may boast charisma and obvious appeal, but each are saddled with their own mess of flaws and failings that render them for now decidedly questionable challengers to Obama...
...will almost certainly opt out of the matching-funds system for the nomination period and public financing for the general election, raising record amounts of cash from the day he commences his effort through November 2012 (in particular, his Internet fundraising power will be re-established). No doubt his Republican challengers will spout bravado about opting out to keep pace with Obama, but such a monumental task is easier said than done without the incumbent's viral appeal and brand name. Not one of them - Palin included - has the proven or latent capacity to raise a comparable amount of money...
...with the passage of the health care bill, he is still an amazing fourth-quarter player, who elevates his communication with the American people to world-class standards at the end of a battle, exactly when it counts most. As a snapshot at this moment, none of the potential Republican candidates have displayed anything close to his skills...
...turns. Eventually, we will see a strong and varied cast of potential rivals to the President on the field. But Obama can't be beaten by nothing, and as Berra also liked to say, "It gets late out there early." The same thing could be said for a Republican field that won't be joining the game until closer to the twilight...