Which governor will become President in 2008?

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
My early picks... Governors for prez

Rs
George Pataki
Mitt Romney
Mike Huckabee

Ds
Bill Richardson
Ed Rendell
Mike Easley (My dark horse) Governor of NC.

I have a hard time seeing a senator winning this thing.

McCain... Don't think he has much of a shot
Clinton... Seems like a lock for the Dem nom right now but she has a TON of baggage and couldn't be any more polarizing
Allen... Says he won't run... we'll see
Bob Kerry... Has great stage presence, seem very bright.
John Kerry... Bwaaahahahahahahaha
Obama... Hmm... He hasn't said no yet. I don't think he'd win but it would be a good warm up for 2012

Any outsiders?
Howard Dean? I guess we'll see if he likes being the DNC Chair. Probably won't run
Rudy Guiliani... I think he'd be an interesting Independent candidate. No way he gets the R nom though
Newt - popular with the base... doesn't have a chance in hell

Pataki has no shot. People think Gore is boring? Pataki brings new meaning to the word snore.

Allen and Kerry (John) are out. Even if they don't realize it yet. They're both done. McCain and Hillary are the popular choices, but both have issues. McCain can't win the ultra-fundie christian base, he's a maverick, etc.. Clinton is Clinton. People hate her for her name, who her husband is, and not for her policies (which are more moderate than liberal).

Romney has a good shot, maybe someone like Hagel as well. Bayh is a def. possibility, and don't count Gore out. He's been right about an awful lot of things.

Oh, Rudy is out as well. Pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, twice divorced. He'll never make it past the SC primary.

 

[Vic]

I see Gore and Hillary as big potential disasters for the Dems come 08. Both are too polarizing and have too much baggage. Better if they ran McOwen

They need a solid moderate from a big state. Someone who can reach across the political divide. I'm beginning to think that Spitzer is their man.

 

[her209]

Former Governor Gray Davis

 

[2Xtreme21]

I think the country would be in for one helluva shocker if Guiliani decides to run as an independent. Right now, he's probably as centrist as they come and would make an awesome choice for President... unfortunately, good luck getting a credible campaign together under a loose party affiliation.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: her209
Former Governor Gray Davis

He would fit in perfect in DC with all the other politicians who dont know how to balance their budgets.

 

[aidanjm]

Taking into account Hillary's squillion dollar campaign chest, ultra-high name recognition, and the fact she is one of America's most admired women, how could any other Democrat get the party nod for Presential candidate?

edit: plus the mainstream media absolutely love the idea of Hillary as president, it's the ulitmate news story, so there would be enormous positive press bias (in favor of Hillary).

 

[jogiba]

An Edwards/Obama ticket would be unbeatable.
http://oneamericacommittee.com/splash/
http://obama.senate.gov/

 

[LunarRay]

With appropriate Constitutional changes ... Arnold.. and ya.. know.. I'd vote for him..!!

Governors are sorta out of the limelight.. able to ebb and flow as the population does if they have asperations for the Federal spot light..
I never even heard of Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter or George Bush, the younger, until they started the movement to the Whitehouse.. They are in the very best position to pounce on the opportunity..

 

[Vic]

I predicted Bill Clinton would take the White House back in '90. He was quite the rising star. I always liked him. A real old fashioned politician, that perfect blend of statesman and salesman.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
My early picks... Governors for prez

Rs
George Pataki
Mitt Romney
Mike Huckabee

Ds
Bill Richardson
Ed Rendell
Mike Easley (My dark horse) Governor of NC.

I have a hard time seeing a senator winning this thing.

McCain... Don't think he has much of a shot
Clinton... Seems like a lock for the Dem nom right now but she has a TON of baggage and couldn't be any more polarizing
Allen... Says he won't run... we'll see
Bob Kerry... Has great stage presence, seem very bright.
John Kerry... Bwaaahahahahahahaha
Obama... Hmm... He hasn't said no yet. I don't think he'd win but it would be a good warm up for 2012

Any outsiders?
Howard Dean? I guess we'll see if he likes being the DNC Chair. Probably won't run
Rudy Guiliani... I think he'd be an interesting Independent candidate. No way he gets the R nom though
Newt - popular with the base... doesn't have a chance in hell

I don't think Allen could win, regardless of what he wants. I'd group him with John Kerry. It's just not going to happen.

As for Clinton, it's hard to say. She is in a position now that could mean Senate Majority Leader, which is extremely powerful, so I don't think it's an easy thing to call anymore. Prior to the other day's election, most of us didn't think the Democrats would actually win the Senate. They would pick up seats, but not necessarily win.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Vic
I see Gore and Hillary as big potential disasters for the Dems come 08. Both are too polarizing and have too much baggage. Better if they ran McOwen

They need a solid moderate from a big state. Someone who can reach across the political divide. I'm beginning to think that Spitzer is their man.

Bingo.

I typically vote Libertarian but would tip my hand to the big R if they showed up on the ballot.

 

[vi edit]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_el_pr/vilsack_president

Vilsack out of Iowa is the first to declare his intent to run. I almost posted his name yesterday in this thread as a possibility.

Interestingly enough, he lost in his own state in early polling to Edwards and Clinton.

Having lived in Iowa for most of his tenure, I have no problems with him. The state ran a balanced budget and there wasn't the polarity towards him that many people have of other candidates. He's very "middle of the road".

 

[TheSlamma]

Edwards / Obama 2008!!

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Genx87
I really thought Tim Pawlenty here in MN could make a good republican candidate. And honestly considering this states politics and current situation on the national level to win again might be a good indication of his appeal.

/shrug

I dunno, I've spent time with Gov Pawlenty (my boss is a close friend of his), and I don't see him as Presidential material. He seems like a bit of a lightweight to me (though in all fairness he's clearly much brighter than President Bush and several other US Presidents). If he'd lost yesterday (which he came damned close to doing), his political career would have been over IMO. I will say that the idea of a midwestern swing-state governor could be an appealing prospect as a Presidential candidate, but frankly I think a lot of Democratic Presidential candidates would beat Pawlenty in his own state.

Heh I open up the star and libune to find this.

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/798110.html

 

[Schadenfroh]

Hopefully Haley Barbour of Mississippi, I think the only way we (citizens of MS) will ever get rid of him is if he became president of the USA.

But, I doubt the US people would be foolish enough to elect him, so we are stuck with him.

 

[Alienwho]

We need to put a real business man/economist in office. Mitt Romney all the way.

If the dems want to hand the election to the republicans, put hilary up for office. A minority will hold the office before a woman does (whatever a minority is these days).

 

[BDawg]

Do people really think a Mormon can win?

 

[Vic]

Hmm... and Spitzer is a Jew. As much as that doesn't bother me, there is no way I can believe that either a Jew or a Mormon will be elected President. I mean, jeez, we've only elected one non-Protestant in the history of this nation and he was assassinated.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Vic
This is a serious question, and I'm looking for serious opinions. As most of you should know by now, senators do not usually win the presidency. In fact, a senator has not won the presidency since JFK. Typically, it is the VP or a governor who has the best chances. As we can say with certainty now that Cheney doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell (as if he ever did), I'm genuinely curious who will go to the front in 2008 now that the Dems have positioned themselves with the majority of the governorships.
Please no Hillary responses thank you.

I have liked a lot of the news I have seen on Romney. Who would have ever thought I would say that about a Massachusetts politician

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Vic
I see Gore and Hillary as big potential disasters for the Dems come 08. Both are too polarizing and have too much baggage.

Hillary is more polarising than Dumbya? Please. Shrub showed that a very polarising figure can win Presidential office, anyway.

Of course, as people get to hear Hillary's message, they'll realize she is quite the moderate.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Alienwho
We need to put a real business man/economist in office. Mitt Romney all the way.

Romney is a social conservative who is building his campaign around gay bashing and anti- gay marriage. don't you think that message is a little bit tired? I would have thought the people might want some substance, as opposed to more fear mongering.

 

[BurnItDwn]

This is complete speculation with no backing evidence of any sort. I don't know enough about him nor do I think he's really ready personally.


What about Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana?


He is a moderate democrat. He has shown he is able to work with republicans rather than against them. But, he's only a first Term Governor with limited experience. He's been a farmer and a rancher for a long time, but he's also got his Masters in Science. He seems like he's a well versed man. I think he would be able to attract some of the traditionally republican voters due to his rural upbringing, and the fact that he has demonstrated that he sees beyond party lines (Why else would he have a Republican for a Lt Governor instead of another Democrat?)

Personally, I don't know his stance on ALL of the issues, and I'm sure I disagree with him on some of them, but I think overall the guy will have a LOT of respect for ALL of the amendments in the constitution. He's one of the Dem's that I don't see trying to fvck with the second Amendment.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
What about Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana?

I don't think anyone with a weird name will ever be elected. Same holds true for Iowa Governor Vilsack.

The names just don't sound Presidential.

Nixon, Ford, Regan, Bush, and Clinton all pass the sound test.

I think there's a lot more to becoming President than being the best man for the job.

You'll probably never see an ugly President either.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Alienwho
We need to put a real business man/economist in office. Mitt Romney all the way.

Romney is a social conservative who is building his campaign around gay bashing and anti- gay marriage. don't you think that message is a little bit tired? I would have thought the people might want some substance, as opposed to more fear mongering.

It could still work with a enough of the country to win -- especially when you add in his fiscal credentials.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Im curious about all this talk about Edwards/Obama. I have a hard time seeing Edwards on the front of any ticket. He was a one term senator and a trial lawyer. He's a smart guy but it's hard to see him as presidential.

Obama... There's a possible veep nomination in it for him. But I also see this as a trial run for 2012 or 2016. (Depending on who wins in '08)