Another name has emerged in the already crowded field of potential Republican candidates and the new hopeful has served as governor of Louisiana. No, not Gov. Bobby Jindall who looks increasingly unlikely to launch a bid. Its former Gov. Buddy Roemer who currently serves as the president and CEO of Business First Bank.
After serving six years in Congress, Roemer knocked off Edwin Edwards in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1987. Roemer jumped over to the Republicans in 1991 as he geared up for a second term, only to place third in the primary which was won by former state Rep. David Duke, best known for his role with the Ku Klux Klan. Roemer backed Edwards in 1991 and tried to run again for his old job in 1995, only to lose again in the Republican primary Speaking of Duke, the controversial former Louisiana state representative has left the door open for another presidential run. Duke, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and the Republican nomination in 1992, is weighing running again for the GOP nod but also left the door open for running as an independent While there was speculation that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would not make another stab at the Republican nomination, its clear that he is still thinking about launching another bid. Huckabee made five appearances on Fox News and Fox Business Channel from Thursday to Saturday
While former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney lost out to Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain in the 2008 New Hampshire primary, a new poll finds that he enjoys a healthy lead in the Granite State if he chooses to run again in 2012. A New Hampshire Journal poll released on Thursday found Romney taking 39 percent. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin placed second with 16 percent. Huckabee, who took 11 percent in 2008, stood in third with 10 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich came in fourth with 8 percent while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took fifth with 7 percent. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty had 4 percent, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania took 3 percent and Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi pulled 1 percent Following his less-than-impressive presidential bid in 2008, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani left the door open for another try in 2012 in an appearance on Morning Joe on MSNBC on Friday. Giuliani denied a report in the New York Post that he was meeting with advisers to kick over another presidential bid While there had been speculation that U.S. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee would run for the Republican nomination, he slammed the door shut on that possibility in a radio appearance earlier in the month
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels hit the Beltway this week, appearing in Washington on Wednesday to receive an award for his commitment to fiscal responsibility. While Daniels does not rank as the most aggressive of candidates thinking about running for the Republican presidential nomination, a new poll of Washington insiders found that they are increasingly open to the possibility of the Indiana governor as the 2012 candidate. Daniels placed second behind Romney in the National Journal Political Insiders poll as the most likely Republican candidate in 2012 ... Of course, Daniels could be hampered by a fellow Indiana Republican running for the nomination. While speculation continues that U.S. Rep. Mike Pence will run for governor instead of the presidency in 2012, he will be heading to South Carolina, a key primary state, later in the month While President Barack Obama appointed him to be ambassador to China, the buzz is starting to grow that former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is contemplating running for the GOP nod in 2012. Huntsmans presidential ambitions received some attention in USA Today as well as in the Utah papers
Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska continues to attack Obama from the left. This week, Gravel ripped Obama on health care, claiming that Americans want something more akin to what Canadians and Europeans have. Gravel, who made a stab at the Democratic and Libertarian nominations in 2008, has expressed interest in taking on Obama for the Democratic nod in 2012 ... Obama administration politics are also drawing the fire of frequent presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader. This week, Nader tore into the new search policies that the TSA uses on airline customers Jimmy McMillan, who made waves as the Rent is Too Damn High Party candidate in the New York gubernatorial race, is planning to run for the presidency and has expressed interest in competing in the Republican primaries.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
