2012 GOP Field

[Del Tachi]

Vote and discuss. 

Romney, Pawlenty, and Huntsman could probably all give Obama a run for his money.  Santorum seems to be in the best position to invigorate both social conservatives and budget hawks. 

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Assuming the mainstream Republicans didn't jump ship, Ron Paul would probably be good as he is quite strong among independents and might sap some of Obama's base.

Otherwise, Romney could do well assuming the Tea Partiers worked for him, too.

Cain might win if Obama screwed things up a bit.

Otherwise, most of these possibilities are too alienating and have high negatives.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Assuming the mainstream Republicans didn't jump ship, Ron Paul would probably be good as he is quite strong among independents and might sap some of Obama's base.

Otherwise, Romney could do well assuming the Tea Partiers worked for him, too.

Cain might win if Obama screwed things up a bit.

Otherwise, most of these possibilities are too alienating and have high negatives.

I think a lot of tea partiers would bolt if Mitt is the nominee. With Mitchell out the only likely individual both tea partiers and the Bush wing would both like is Pawlenty. But personally hope it's either Paul or Cain.

[AZDem]

I think Romney but he won't get the nomination. RomneyCare will do him in with the Teapers.

[Likely Voter]

assuming they get the nomination, then probably Huntsman. But really I doubt that the maps for Huntsman, Pawlenty or Romney would be all that much different. They are all essentially the generic republican.

[Del Tachi]

assuming they get the nomination, then probably Huntsman. But really I doubt that the maps for Huntsman, Pawlenty or Romney would be all that much different. They are all essentially the generic republican.

Agreed.  Which worries me a bit, none of these "generic republicans" have any regional appeal at all. 

[feeblepizza]

I hope it's Roemer or Cain. I could be persuaded to support others if the options were dwindled down a bit.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I hope it's Roemer or Cain. I could be persuaded to support others if the options were dwindled down a bit.

I take it then you don't want to win?

[specific_name]

Huntsman would do well in the general, probably the best in the field. However, he has to make it out of the primaries, which he likely won't.

[Heimdal]

Huntsman is an excellent option for the GOP heading into 2012. He has a whole lot of experience from government under Reagan and George H. W Bush, and he has some foreign policy experience from his terms as Ambassador to China and Singapore. He did a very god job as Governor of Utah.

And even more important, he isn't some 2008 retread like Romney, or a hasbeen like Gingrich.

[Ben Romney]

Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty

but you forgot Fred Karger in your list!!!!

[Mr. Morden]

Karger vs. Obama would indeed be a fun map.

[big bad fab]

Would Huntsman be able to lead a long national campaign against the Obama machine ?
I doubt it.

Really, Romney is the last one.
Of course, it's not very good to be the nominee by default. But, at least, he'll produce a skilled campaign.

The interesting process inside the GOP in 2012 won't be the primaries but the VP vetting !
As it'll give us a favourite for 2016 or it'll kill early some "fresh" guys' ambitions.

[GLPman]

At this point? Romney. Virtually nothing is known about Huntsman right now.

[Lambsbread]

Ron Paul. Not joking.

[tpfkaw]

Probably Huntsman.  If he has enough ads in blue states he might bore all of Obama's voters to death.

[tmthforu94]

Romney, though I could see Huntsman being a decent candidate once his name recognition builds.

[Frodo]

Huntsman is an excellent option for the GOP heading into 2016. He has a whole lot of experience from government under Reagan and George H. W Bush, and he has some foreign policy experience from his terms as Ambassador to China and Singapore. He did a very god job as Governor of Utah.

And even more important, he isn't some 2008 retread like Romney, or a hasbeen like Gingrich.

Fixed -I regard 2012 as merely a trial run for him.  He has no chance at winning the nomination next year with the Tea Party still a powerful force within the GOP.  By 2016, it will be a different story.  Already, their strength is being sapped mere months after being so instrumental in helping the GOP win the House as well as numerous state houses.  

[TheGlobalizer]

Huntsman, easy.  Economic conservative, social moderate.  I'm just hoping the primary doesn't turn him into a Romney.

[Yelnoc]

Romney, though I could see Huntsman being a decent candidate once his name recognition builds.

Name recognition tends not to be a problem for major party nominees.

[krazen1211]

assuming they get the nomination, then probably Huntsman. But really I doubt that the maps for Huntsman, Pawlenty or Romney would be all that much different. They are all essentially the generic republican.

Agreed.  Which worries me a bit, none of these "generic republicans" have any regional appeal at all. 

Romney has the Mormons in Nevada. The problem is it might cost him in North Carolina, which is probably the only southern state where it matters.

[The Mikado]

Romney has the Mormons in Nevada.

Nevada's LDS-ness is constantly exaggerated.

[TheGlobalizer]

Nevada's LDS-ness is constantly exaggerated.

Agree, but it matters because:

a) Mormons tend to be heavily Republican, so ~double their impact on the primary;
b) Nevada is not a state where Mormons will lose on heresy grounds, as they are a familiar group (as opposed to the deep south).  Negative on the disqualification factor.

That said, I'm not sure I agree with the idea that Romney has the NV Mormons; Huntsman should be able to overtake Romney in that demographic.

[The Mikado]

Nevada's LDS-ness is constantly exaggerated.

Agree, but it matters because:

a) Mormons tend to be heavily Republican, so ~double their impact on the primary;
b) Nevada is not a state where Mormons will lose on heresy grounds, as they are a familiar group (as opposed to the deep south).  Negative on the disqualification factor.

That said, I'm not sure I agree with the idea that Romney has the NV Mormons; Huntsman should be able to overtake Romney in that demographic.

The poster before me was talking about Romney's chances in Nevada in the General, not the Primary.

[TheGlobalizer]

The poster before me was talking about Romney's chances in Nevada in the General, not the Primary.

Didn't pick that up.  Romney's Mormon faith probably has little effect in the general.