If Romney lost to Obama in 2008, who would be GOP nominee in 2012

[OSR stands with Israel]

Would McCain run again

[adamevans]

McCain or Huckabee

[NewYorkExpress]

McCain wouldn't run a third time at 76 years old, so I guess Huckabee...or maybe Romney tries again?

[OSR stands with Israel]

Maybe Romney's running mate could be a candidate

[Skill and Chance]

Huckabee might be able to win.

[dw93]

If Huckabee does half as well as he did in the 2008 primaries of this scenario as he did in real life, he has a good chance at getting the nomination. While I use to think he'd get crushed if he were the nominee, both in 2008 or 2012, I think so long as he puts more emphasis on his economic populism than his far right social views, he can keep the election more competitive than Romney did, and if butterflies cause Obama to make some crucial mistakes, Huck could narrowly pull of a win. If Huckabee doesn't go for it though, my guess would be Pawlenty, Perry if he doesn't get all gaffe prone, or Huntsman if butterflies make him stay as Governor of Utah rather than be Obama's Ambassador to China. Pawlenty and Perry lose as bad or worse than Romney, while Huntsman either only narrowly loses or wins.

[President Johnson]

Rick Santorum, and he loses with the real 2012 map plus North Carolina.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Yeah I would agree with that. That was back when he was a rising star and considered a hero in the GOP. Ann Coulter said nominating him over Romney would spare the GOP an electoral loss. I remember when he won in a landslide in 2013, I was worried that New Jersey just elected the next President of the United States. I look back on how electorally intimidating I used to find him and laugh. I don't think any politician has ever squandered so much goodwill so quickly. Okay fine, maybe Eric Schneiderman or Eric Greitens. At the time then, no politician had ever squandered so much goodwill.

[Politician]

Christie, but he narrowly loses to Obama.

Map:

[Lechasseur]

Chris Christie, probably