On 2010 and 2012: From the Horses’ Mouths

As I begin this post, let me clarify that I’m not giving up on 2008. The consequences of an Obama Administration, which could include catastrophic terrorist attacks, the destruction of of a functioning private retirement system, and 500,000 more abortions are not something I’m going to concede to.

However, with so many people looking beyond 2008, if you’re going to do that, what about what people are saying.

First, tonight, Senator Blance Lincoln (D-AR) is breathing a sigh of relief:

Huckabee, 52, said he wouldn’t rule out making a future bid for the presidency, but said he definitely would not run for a seat in Congress

So, no he won’t be running against Blanche Lincoln for U.S. Senate and I can’t say that I can blame him. And given that the NRSC knows this 2+ years in advance, they better not be planning on a late minute Hail Mary pass to get Huckabee to do something he’s said no to. As for the Presidency, Huckabee said:  

Huckabee, considered by some a frontrunner for a 2012 presidential bid, said his plans are uncertain. A lot may depend on what Palin is doing four years from now, he said.

“I still want to believe she’s going to be the vice president,” Huckabee said. “But if she isn’t, she won’t just completely fade away.”

I just cannot see a Huckabee and Palin as rivals. Huckabee and Romney, sure. Huckabee and Palin would split too many people.

Speaking of Romney, he was in Louisiana and had this to say:

Romney, who sought the Republican presidential nomination earlier this year, said he will not be on the 2012 ballot.

“I think it’s unlikely that I’ll be running again,” Romney said.

Romney compared a run for the White House to a window opening offering the right timing and the right opportunity.

Romney could change his mind. While I’m not his biggest fan, he’s been through an up and down year. And I don’t know how emotionally he is. Financially, he invested $40 million in his campaign and he’d have to invest more in 2012. Would he get a better return on his investment? I got to say it’s doubtful.

If Proposition 8 is approved, Mitt Romney could be a great candidate for Governor of California in 2010 (he recently bought a house there.) The GOP has no solid candidates and if he wants an opportunity to clean up a disaster, California would be it.

In the state of Louisiana, Romney did have an idea as to who might be a candidate:

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney predicted Thursday that Gov. Bobby Jindal will consider a 2012 run for the White House if John McCain loses on Nov. 4.

“Bobby Jindal will certainly be taking a look at it,” Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, said on WWL-Radio.

Well, what did Bobby Jindal have to say about that?

Jindal denied Thursday afternoon that he is mounting a presidential campaign despite multiple fundraising trips outside the state and an upcoming visit to Iowa.

“I am not running for the White House in 2012,” Jindal said.

He said he plans to run for re-election for governor in 2011. It is not his “intent” to run for the White House in 2016, he said.

Jindal said his goal is to serve two terms as governor and then leave public office to focus on his family.

“I don’t have any intent of running for any other office. I’d like to ideally go back to the private sector,” Jindal said.

Jindal said he wants his three young children to grow up in Louisiana.

“What’s important in life is to use your talents to help improve your community,” he said.

I don’t think Jindal is lying about 2012. It’d be impossible for him to run for Governor in 2011, while simultaneously carrying on a Presidential campaign. He’s clearly thought out what he wants to do in life, and it doesn’t involve trapsing around Iowa.

It seems bizarre that so many people are willing to write about and speculate on who might run in 2012 that they don’t care very much to listen to what these people have to say. Some of the biggest names mentioned for 2012 are Huckabee, Romney, and Jindal.

Huckabee: May run, but it could depend on what Palin does.

Romney: Probably won’t run.

Jindal: Definitely won’t run.

While I hope if Republicans lose, they’ll nominate a better candidate next time, the simple fact of the matter is that we can really only run one Presidential race at a time, and after the nominating’s done, we’ve only got one candidate. Do what’s right today and worry about tomorrow when it comes. If people are banking on the fact that they’re going to get a specific favorite candidate come 2012 and are giving up on this race, they may wish to think again.