If Romney and Palin don't run

[California8429]

...while I expect Palin to sit out an elected future, what would happen in the GOP primary if Romney did not throw his hat into 2012?

[Devilman88]

Other people will step in and run.

[Bo]

Other people will step in and run.

This, pretty much. Huckabee might have a good shot at it if he decides to run. If Huckabee doesn't run as well, Thune or Pawlenty mgiht win the nomination. Mitch Daniels or someone we have never/rarely heard of winning the nomination is also a possibility.

[Derek]

Mitch Daniels could beat both of them anyways.

[BlueSwan]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

[California8429]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

then it would be santorum vs johnson...because they would still.

map for that..

[California8429]

What would the map look like minus romney

assuming people like Daniels, Gingrich, Thune and Johnson were in the race

[King]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

Then we wind up with the George McGovern '72 of the GOP (prolly Gary Johnson).

[Derek]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

Then we wind up with the George McGovern '72 of the GOP (prolly Gary Johnson).

Obama is basically George McGovern and like him he even had a strong base of supporters in 2008. Their ideas are similar. The difference is that Nixon was popular and things were well in 1972 and it was the opposite for Obama in 2008 plus he raised more money. The GOP will be guaranteed Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska (other than that district), Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Alabama at the presidential level.

[California8429]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

Then we wind up with the George McGovern '72 of the GOP (prolly Gary Johnson).

Obama is basically George McGovern and like him he even had a strong base of supporters in 2008. Their ideas are similar. The difference is that Nixon was popular and things were well in 1972 and it was the opposite for Obama in 2008 plus he raised more money. The GOP will be guaranteed Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska (other than that district), Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Alabama at the presidential level.

Arkansas and TN would be more republican in a presidential election then SC and Texas, Obama had decent numbers there

[Sasquatch]

If Palin doesn't run, 2012 will be 1996 all over again...BORING.

[Derek]

Idk I expect some interesting ads in the GOP primaries.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

If Palin doesn't run, 2012 will be 1996 all over again...BORING.

[Bull Moose Base]

I sort of reject the premise.  If Romney didn't run, it would likely be because the economy comes roaring back to life in the next 6 months to the point where he thinks it'd be fruitless to challenge an incumbent.  But in such a case, Palin might run anyway because being a losing nominee may be good enough for her purposes of promoting her celebrity.  Otherwise I think there's a good chance Romney's running might scare her off.

[Yelnoc]

The fields would open up tremendously.  Any Republican with dreams of the presidency will run, but in the end, I have to agree with Joe.  If Romney didn't run it would be because it was futile.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Other people will step in and run.

How fun it would be if noone wanted to run. That would be quite a situation...

Then we wind up with the George McGovern '72 of the GOP (prolly Gary Johnson).

Obama is basically George McGovern and like him he even had a strong base of supporters in 2008. Their ideas are similar. The difference is that Nixon was popular and things were well in 1972 and it was the opposite for Obama in 2008 plus he raised more money. The GOP will be guaranteed Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska (other than that district), Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Alabama at the presidential level.

LOL, Obama is nothing like McGovern. If he were, the power elites never would have allowed him to win the presidency.

[redcommander]

It might actually be a good thing if Palin and Romney don't run. It would be pretty hard to top the unappealing 96 Republican field, so without the two of them running I believe would actually beneficial and help pave the way for more candidates to emerge that would be more electable and with less baggage. Perhaps Gregg, McMorris Rodgers, Hoeven, Kirk, and plenty of others.

[Joe Biden 2020]

A side question, if Romney doesn't run in 2012 because of a growing and rapidly improving economy, do you think he would go ahead and vault to front-runner for the 2016 campaign?

(I know this question should be in my trends board, but it begs the question here.)

As far as the question at hand, I agree with redcommander, it might actually benefit the GOP if neither of them run.  Palin is too polarizing and is perceived as too naive and Romney is a Mormon, while it shouldn't be damning politically, would hurt his chances among the Christian and Athiestic voting blocks.  I think if the GOP can get a 'second-tier' candidate like Pawlenty, Thune, or even Santorum, things would be a little brighter for them two years from now.  Remember, while they may be second-tier now, they are on the threshold of becoming well known household names.  I would also throw Huckabee out with Palin and Romney as he is too polarizing as a strict Southern Baptist and, plus, I think he enjoys his show on Fox News.