Five GOP hopefuls already eliminated for 2012?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It's appears that five leading potential candidates for 2012 Republican presidential nomination are already eliminated for various reasons.

I'm not going to waste a space for John Ensign and Mark Sanford, who are two of these five candidates. But it sure that they not going to be the nominees.

It's unlikely that Charlie Crist would run, as he is seeking (and almost certainly would win) Senate seat from Florida istead of reelection. I don't think he'd seek presidency just two years after moving from Tallahesse to D.C.

Jon Huntsman will be soon out as he's taking Ambasadorship in the P.R.C. Doubtful he'd run in 2012 against Obama, as first of all he's leaving the country and after all he accepted that post from Obama.

Notheless, while Ensign and Sanford appeared to be finished, Huntsman and Crist are strong possibilities in 2016.

And the fifth is of course Sarah Palin. I agree with Larry Sabato that her sudden resignation effectively eliminated her as 2012 frontrunner. She really should wait, retire in 2010 and, like Romney did, then devoted next two years for running.

Sudden resignation made her look, well, immature. She could be eaisly attacked by a mode: "when she's President, would she did the same thing after some unfriendly arcicles?".

Right now, looks like there's going to be Romney v. Huckabee v. Gingrich race, but a dark horse no one excepts now can emerge as well.