"The Republicans don't have "dark horses" and "insurgent" candidates.
Wait, let me rephrase that: They have them, but they just never win the nomination. With Republicans, the nomination always goes to whichever party leader's turn it is. That's why Nixon beat Rockefeller, Ford beat Reagan, Bush I beat Dole, Dole beat Buchanan, and Bush II beat McCain.
My guess is that it's Frist turn in '08. He is Senate Majority leader, after all. And being stiffer than a board left in a New Hampshire snowdrift didn't seem to hurt Bob Dole or George Bush I any." - james
I would agree with that, but 1980 was something of an exception. I believe that the GOP leadership would have preferred a 'moderate' George H.W. Bush over the 'conservative' Ronald Reagan, especially since the GOP leadership of both the Senate and the House were quite moderate.
Poll
