Pence to visit Iowa again; Gingrich to SC; Pawlenty to IA and NH

[Bull Moose Base]

I'm calling Pence the dark horse Republican whose potential to pull an upset in the primary is the most overlooked.

Wins in November by Angle and Rand Paul could embolden the Teabaggers to reject the imperfect conservative Romney in favor of a more "pure" conservative.  Palin, Huckabee and Gingrich are the best known and positioned alternatives to Romney but there's a pretty strong opportunity cost to all of their candidacies as well as major flaws in each.  I could see two or all three taking a pass on 2012.  I don't think Pence will run if Daniels does but I think Daniels is a long shot to do so.  If Pence's competition to become the early and major alternative to Romney is limited to people like Pawlenty, Thune, Santorum, Johnson, Barbour, he's well-poised to pass more "tests" than anyone else/generate more enthusiasm among the two demographics needed to separate himself- social conservatives and (despite his long record in congress) anti-government Teabaggers.

[Bull Moose Base]

Dear Mister Beet,

I will now refudiate you.  My armchair psychoanalysis leads me to the conclusion you are still traumatized by the insurgent Obama campaign of 2008 that derailed the campaign you were on and continue to live in fear of it happening again.  But Obama is one of the greatest stumpers of all-time and, despite the Right-wing hypocrisy machine freaking over his telepromptiness, in the 2008 campaign was able to discuss policy fluently without a script, debate and interview well, and exuded intelligence.  Palin on the other hand without a script came across as one of the least prepared people to be president in America, including Charlie Sheen.   The chances of her unraveling in a hilarious way are high.  And that's if she even runs which I tend to doubt she herself has decided yet.  If she does, Keith Olbermann will become obsessed with ranting against her, which I agree could help her in a primary.  If she's able not to trip badly, by all means it could lead to the outcome you predict.  But as a politician, she's no Obama and, left to speak off the top of her head, could also implode before our very dropped jaws.

Feel better,
Joementum