Who Will The Republicans Look to in 2012

[Frodo]

Sarah Palin
Mike Huckabee
Mitt Romney
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All of the above are sacrificial lambs.

I don't see Bobby Jindal throwing his hat into the ring until perhaps either 2016 or 2020. 

[Frodo]

Either Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee -Sarah Palin may try to make a run for the nomination too, but her erratic behavior will serve to ensure that she will never win the nomination, though she could make enough of a splash to split the socially/religious conservative vote with Mike Huckabee, thereby delivering the nomination to Mitt Romney.

As far as Mike Pence is concerned, he is better off in the House.  If Republican fortunes in Congress don't turn either next year, or in 2012, they most definitely will by 2014 by sheer exhaustion with one-party Democratic rule.  And he will want to be well-placed to take advantage of that wave if and when it comes his way, particularly if John Boehner finally retires and lets a younger conservative generation of Republican congressional leaders like Mike Pence, Eric Cantor, and Paul Ryan take over.