susan collins?

[WalterMitty]

any chance she runs in 2012?

ive not heard any moderate mentioned among the 2012 likely candidates.

[Ronnie]

As much as I love her (and I really DO love her), she won't be a candidate in 2012.

Feel free to prove me wrong, though.

[The Ex-Factor]

any chance me run in 2012?

ive not heard any moderate mentioned among the 2012 likely candidates.

I wonder why.

Anyway, she supports legalized abortion, so no chance really.

Snowe is my favorite Republican senator, but Collins ain't all that bad either.....

[Lunar]

I don't think ideological centrists can win in national primaries and, of course, adopting more conservative policies could risk her reelection campaign in six years.

On the other hand, it seems she'd have a good shot at New Hampshire.  But Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, and Nevada?  Less so.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

It would be hilarious to watch the media try to paint her as a far right winger like they did John McCain after hailing him as a maverick for most of his career.

[Bacon King]

It would be hilarious to watch the media try to paint her as a far right winger like they did John McCain after hailing him as a maverick for most of his career.

Regardless of the media's role, McCain did make a pretty sharp turn to the right while running for the presidency.

[Eraserhead]

She'll never run. No point.

[Nym90]

It would be hilarious to watch the media try to paint her as a far right winger like they did John McCain after hailing him as a maverick for most of his career.

Collins is far more moderate than McCain.

Which is why she'll never be nominated. McCain was the most moderate Republican who could ever win the nomination in the present environment.

[Beet]

I don't think ideological centrists can win in national primaries and, of course, adopting more conservative policies could risk her reelection campaign in six years.

On the other hand, it seems she'd have a good shot at New Hampshire.  But Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, and Nevada?  Less so.

She can win if half a dozen conservatives split the vote in several early states; that is essentially what happened to McCain, although Collins is a real moderate whereas McCain was just a "maverick." Her real challenge would be to figure out whether to compete in Iowa and how to avoid humiliation there. Of course, this is all pipe dream but I'd be thrilled if she ran and would give her a serious look. Particulary if Obama does poorly, o/c.

[Daniel Z]

If she runs I can't see her gaining much traction in the primaries. If the Republican party shifts enough to nominate her my avatar will become green.

[Aizen]

If Palin, Jindal and Huckabee all run and split the fundie vote.......

[© tweed]

If Palin, Jindal and Huckabee all run and split the fundie vote.......

Jindal's appeal spreads far beyond evangelicals.  he is a Catholic, after all...

[Lunar]

If Palin, Jindal and Huckabee all run and split the fundie vote.......

I think you'd need more than that.  Remember, primaries tend to bring out the ideologues more than the entire base.

She opposed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.  None of the three Republicans who voted against that have any presidential ambitions, obviously.  C'mon people.

[Person Man]

That's what it would take in the current political environment to win....but you can't even run a center-Right Republican in a Republican primary. If Obama is polarizing, like Bush was in 2004, the Republicans will run a Huntsman, Romney or Gringrich. Someone who is rank and file Republican and not real radical or Independent. If nothing gets better and Obama gets blamed for it or if Obama is popular, the Republicans will either try to win ala 1980 or simply appease the base ala 1984. They will nominate a Jindal or Palin.

[Workers' Friend]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

[Ronnie]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

Yeah, I love higher spending and taxes!

[Associate Justice PiT]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

Yeah, I love higher spending and taxes!

     Indeed! We need the government to decide what we spend our money on!

[Lunar]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

Yeah, I love higher spending and taxes!

     Indeed! We need the government to decide what we spend our money on!

I'm cool with it as long as it's a palace shaped like Obama's smile.

[Storebought]

Even though I rather like Collins, she should stay in ME. Her feelings would be hurt if she ran for a statewide contest in Oklahoma.

[War on Want]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

Yeah, I love higher spending and taxes!

I do too!

[Хahar 🤔]

No, we don't need another Moderate that leans Fiscally Conservative.

Yeah, I love higher spending and taxes!

I do too!

Me three!

[Robespierre's Jaw]

No moderate, with political views such as Senator Susan Collins of Maine, would dare to run for the Republican Party's nomination in 2012, or in the near future. Potential moderate candidates such as Senator Collins, would get mawled alive in the current GOP climate which has engulfed the Republican Party, ever since the "Reagan Revolution" of 1980.

[Platypus]

I'd vote for her.

[Lunar]

yeah but this is a joke thread. 

Would you vote for Superman in 2012?  How about a race between Superman and Spiderman??

[Platypus]

yeah but this is a joke thread. 

Would you vote for Superman in 2012?  How about a race between Superman and Spiderman??

Why would I vote for Superman? He has no experience.