A newly formed group of conservatives called Americas President Committee kicked off a petition drive Monday to get U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana into the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Members of the group include former Reagan White House staffer Ralph Benko and former U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas who served with Pence in Congress. Pence will be headed to South Carolina, the first Southern state up for grabs in the nomination battle, later this month During the weekend, as the Republicans met to name the new chairman of the RNC, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former RNC chairman himself, said he would not make up his mind about entering the presidential contest until the spring ... Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who appears almost certain to make another stab at the Republican presidential nomination, is chirping over the fact that he has more than 750,000 followers on Facebook. Of course, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has more than 2.6 million followers on Facebook
Who is the front-runner for the Republican nomination? According to pollster Scott Rasmussen, there is none. Speaking in Louisiana this weekend, the pollster said that he would not be surprised if a dark horse prevailed to defeat the better-known candidates in the race Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, who is keeping open the possibility that he may launch a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, put money on the wrong horse in the RNC race. Bolton was backing Ann Wagner who had led the Missouri GOP. Wagner came up short in the race, losing to Reince Priebus Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also mulling over entering the presidential contest, remained neutral in the RNC race despite a close relationship with another defeated candidate, Saul Anuzis from Michigan
With China President Hu Jintao headed to Washington, D.C., later in the month to meet with President Barack Obama, look for Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr., the former governor of Utah, to enjoy a bit of the limelight -- and enjoy some renewed focus on whether or not he wants to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 Ralph Nader sent a letter to Obama last week, arguing that the president is too close to big business and that this kept his supporters from showing up to vote back in November. Nader, who ran to Obamas left as an independent in 2008, is considering running for the presidency one more time in 2012 With Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas retiring in 2012, fellow Lone Star Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul has a choice to make. Does he run for the U.S. Senate seat or make another attempt at the Republican presidential nomination? Stay tuned
A poll released last week from McClatchy and Marist had good news for Obama. While Romney edged the president 46 percent to 44 president, Obama had a 51 percent to 38 percent lead. Obama also led former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Palin by wide margins -- beating Huckabee 50-38 and Palin 56-30 New RNC Chairman Priebus canned the team at the RNC -- which included a former aide to dethroned RNC boss Michael Steele -- that was planning the 2012 convention in Tampa. Priebus will be headed to the Sunshine State later this week for meetings that will focus on the convention Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani shows no signs of going away. Despite a less-than-stellar attempt to win the Republican nod in 2008, Giuliani continues to leave the door open to running in 2012. On Face the Nation on CBS on Sunday morning, the former mayor said he has thought about running again in recent weeks.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
