The dark horses are about to saddle up

By E.J. Keene

Filed Under Race for White House 2012 on Nov 18 

RCP ran a story today on the guys we may be hearing a lot more about over the next year: the fresh faces and possible “dark horse” candidates for 2012 – provided the Mayans don’t kill us all with their calendar, that is. In light of our power rankings and first-on-the-scene derby rankings and people’s choice rankings, I thought it’d be good to throw a few more names into the blender known as the run-up for the 2010 mid-term elections. Some of these guys could have some serious traction and face-time between now and then, so pay attention when you see or hear them in the near future.

I know some of you have been pining away like Whodat for someone other than the same-old-same-old retreads from ’08 (cough, cough…Huckabee, Ron Paul…cough, cough), so here’s a first crack at a new class of possible leaders of the free world. If Barack “165 total days in the senate, including Saturdays” Obama can fly out of nowhere to capture the Lib nomination, then anything is possible these days. And these guys are a whole lot more credible, talented, and experienced than the junior senator from Illinois.

Take a gander at these thoroughbreds and stallions:
1) John Thune – (Sen-SD); 100% rating on conservative issues in ’06; widely loved in his state; knocked off Daschle in ’04; no business experience, but MBA from USD.

2) Mitch Daniels - (Gov-IN) won 2nd term in ’08 despite the Obawan carrying same state; super-strong fiscal conservative; aide to Richard Lugar when he was mayor of Indianapolis, then his chief of staff in Senate; joined Reagan White House as political director; spent a decade as executive at Eli Lilly; served as director of the Office and Management and Budget during Bush’s first run.

3) Tom Coburn - (Sen – OK) practicing MD who’s also a deficit hawk; strong critic on the Dem health care disaster; his wheelhouse issues include – jobs, economy, and ballooning deficit; best quote to date on the chaos in DC: “If you look historically, every great republic has died over fiscal issues. That is the biggest moral issue of our time.” If that doesn’t tingle the toes, nothing will.

4) Super dark horses include: House of Reps. Eric Cantor (VA) , Mike Pence (IN) , and Paul Ryan (WI). Each have some star potential to them.

Read the article, and have some fun predicting which will emerge as a serious contender for the Big Run.

Giddyap, little dogies!

Comments

  • kjco

    CANNOT BELIEVE they are including SENATORS!!! These slimebags who have trashed our country. The same elitists who will be voted out by the moderates & tea baggers who are SICK TO DEATH of CONGRESS (literally, soon). Obama was a senator, need I say more…

  • Brian H

    What about Liz Cheney?

  • Troy La Mana

    Remember, I nominated Coburn.

    • http://scottslant.blogspot.com/ Scott A. Robinson

      And I have always been a huge proponent of him….

  • Alaina Segovia

    You left out Dick Cheney…

    It’ll never happen, but I think a Cheney/Obama debate has become my ultimate fantasy.

    My favorite Cheney line from the 2004 debate with John Edwards… When asked why he would make a better Vice President than his oppenent, he said, “Because I don’t want my bosses job.”

    • Red State Eddio

      As tantalyzing as that would be (akin to Luke Skywalker & Darth Vader on the Death Star), I really doubt it would realistically get to that. He’s got a bum ticker, and he’d be 71. Too much of a hindrance. It will just have to be a fantasy moment, that’s all.

      • Alaina Segovia

        I know, it will never happen, but a girl can dream.

  • Whodat

    Hey, if talk could walk
    I would be the perfect he
    Who could save the U.S.A.
    But more to it sure there be.

    Names and speeches, Holy S….
    These are everywhere
    Show me blood spilled and
    Battles WON: For these I care.

    Pretty boys, pretty faces,
    Good PR and nice photo ops;
    Don’t make a “candidate” to me;
    Its Gladiators… or, ot flops!

    Whodat watched Palin on Hannity and said, “If it ain’t kick-ass, it ain’t (what I want in a candidate)…

    • Red State Eddio

      So have you ‘re-warmed up’ to the hockey mom from Wasilla?

      I thought her “back-assword” comment on Barbara Walters was what you’re lookin’ for.

      • Whodat

        If I had a snowmobile, I’d put her bumper sticker on it. I must admit the unplugged Palin is shakin and bakin the scene. I like it. Newsweek hit bottom with their little cover stunt and the world can have no doubt as to what Newsweek is all about.

        Whodat thinks Palin, like Limbaugh, Hannity and several others, has a very important role to play…

        • Red State Eddio

          Did you see my link for your “nom de plume” above?

  • Brian H

    I used to know a retired 80 year old horseman who always bet on the grey horse in the race. Could be good news for Pence.

  • http://twitter.com/theatomicmom East of Eden

    All of those guys sound good. Thanks for putting this up.