The 2012 GOP field has shifted considerably in the past few days. Although I was pleased with his connection to the issues facing the GOP, I thought we would get more of the positive side of Newt Gingrich before he “stepped in it” — but after his statements to David Gregory on Sunday’s Meet the Press that Paul Ryan’s Plan for Medicare was “radical engineering from the right” there may be no recovery phase for the former Speaker. Back circa 2004 Gingrich had created a health care initiative and I spoke with him as he was out promoting it. Both he and his plan seemed to lack focus and I was not impressed with his understanding of the healthcare industry in America. His comments Sunday only reinforce the fact that he doesn’t understand healthcare. Newt’s campaign may be done before it really begins. It’s done with me.
Mitt Romney has the most cash (he just raised $10 million in one day), the best organization and decent polls — all things pointing to a campaign that’s in really good shape. That was until he doubled down last week on his signature law from his stint as governor of Massachusetts, Romneycare, the blueprint for Obamacare. Rather than admit the state-wide universal healthcare mandate has become a costly failure pockmarked by growing wait lists for care, he said he’d do it all over again. He won’t be able to square his defense of Romneycare when Obamacare ranks as one of the biggest objections to Obama by the American public. I believe Romney will have to exit the field as he faces an increasing backlash from GOP primary base on his seemingly irreconcilable healthcare positions.
Donald Trump yesterday announced that he will not run for the Presidency because he has more passion for “business”. Is it not ironic that NBC made a deal with him that he could not refuse (and may have threatened to replace him with a new business leader at the helm of Celebrity Apprentice).
Mike Huckabee was in a good position to continue harnessing the strong support that he enjoyed during the 2008 presidential campaign. Some early straw polls placed him in the lead. Instead, his “heart says no” to another run. This isn’t surprising, as he was doing little to prepare and many surmised that he is having a great time and making money for the first time with his popular show on Fox News.
Now we have a very open field and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will break out of the pack. Will safer, more conventional candidates like Gov. Mitch Daniels or Gov Tim Pawlenty fit the bill? Or will we have the opportunity to support two of my favorites: Congressman Paul Ryan and Governor Chris Christie? Will a draft movement get them in the game? I certainly hope so. After all, we must beat Obama in 2012!
Update 5/22: Mitch Daniels is also out.