2012 Republican Rundown: Week 3: MA/MD/SC

[Erc]

The Forum-Chosen Candidates So Far:
1) Sec. Tom Ridge (PA): 55%

Massachusetts

Gov. Mitt Romney
b. March 12, 1947 [65 at inaugration]

Governor of Massachusetts: 2003-2007

Maryland

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
b. October 19, 1958 [54 at inauguration]

Chair of the Maryland Republican Party: 2000 - 2002
Lt. Governor of Maryland: 2003 - 2007

South Carolina

Sen. Lindsey Graham
b. July 9, 1955 [57 at inauguration]

South Carolina State Representative (R-Oconee Co.): 1993-1995
US Representative (SC-3): 1995-2003
US Senator: 2003 -

Gov. Mark Sanford
b. May 28, 1960 [52 at inauguration]

US Representative (SC-1): 1995 - 2001
Governor of South Carolina: 2003 -

Sen. Jim DeMint
b. September 2, 1951 [61 at inauguration]

US Representative (SC-3): 1999 - 2005
US Senator: 2005 -

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Romney and Sanford.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Only Slimeball.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Romney: yes
Steele: maybe
Graham: no
Sanford: yes
DeMint: no

[HappyWarrior]

Maryland

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
b. October 19, 1958 [54 at inauguration]

Chair of the Maryland Republican Party: 2000 - 2002
Lt. Governor of Maryland: 2003 - 2007

Do you want me to vomit?

[Lincoln Republican]

Romney would be a great President.

Graham would be a great Vice President.

[Erc]

Maryland

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
b. October 19, 1958 [54 at inauguration]

Chair of the Maryland Republican Party: 2000 - 2002
Lt. Governor of Maryland: 2003 - 2007

Do you want me to vomit?

Sorry...wanted to pick someone from Maryland, and Steele's about all there is who didn't lose a re-election bid and is under the age of 80.

[paul718]

I voted for Romney and Sanford.

But I have a question.  Why didn't you include Newt Gingrich in Week 2?

[Reaganfan]

Romney and Sanford.

[Erc]

I voted for Romney and Sanford.

But I have a question.  Why didn't you include Newt Gingrich in Week 2?

Didn't meet my official criteria (hasn't held elective office since 1998, nobody talked about him for VP for McCain)...though, like with Rick Santorum the previous week, I very strongly hinted that if you wanted to vote for him, the "Somebody Else" option was there for you.

It's rather unlikely that I'll have to do that sort of wink, wink, nudge, nudge in future states for anybody else (possible exceptions being Ron Paul and, um, Arnold?).

[Associate Justice PiT]

Romney and Sanford.

[HappyWarrior]

Maryland

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
b. October 19, 1958 [54 at inauguration]

Chair of the Maryland Republican Party: 2000 - 2002
Lt. Governor of Maryland: 2003 - 2007

Do you want me to vomit?

Sorry...wanted to pick someone from Maryland, and Steele's about all there is who didn't lose a re-election bid and is under the age of 80.

Ehrlich would probably have a much better shot in my humble opinion.

[Mr. Morden]

Before November, I was a bit of a skeptic of the notion that Sanford would be interested in running for president in 2012, but in the last couple of months, he seems to be everywhere speaking out against the various bailouts.  Not sure if that's part of some coordinated media strategy to raise his national profile, or if it's just Sanford being Sanford.  But it's enough to nudge me towards voting for him in this poll, along with Romney.

[JSojourner]

DeMint could very well run.  And given his support for (when a state legislator) for a law banning gay people from holding jobs where they come into contact with children, he may be the darling of the religious right.  Hopefully, this last election broke the backs of the Talibagelicals.  And DeMint will only be popular in places like South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Romney will run.  The guy's money, his good looks and his business successes all appear to be very much in his favor.  He's affable, sufficiently conservative and very likely to benefit IF the economy is still in the pish-a-doo three years from now.  He'll be seen as the anti-0bama.

Steele could run...but a Lieutenant Governor?  Was he a one, or a two-termer?  He sure is likeable and he can sound reasonable authoritative and informed on a variety of issues.  My guess, though, is that if he has aspirations -- he will first focus on a lower office.  House, Senate, Governor.  Or, he may hope for a GOP win in 2012 and try to snag a cabinet appointment.

Graham, in many respects, is exactly what I think the GOP really wants to become.  Socially and economically conservative -- without being moobat crazy.  Think Richard Lugar or John Warner.  Right of center, to be sure.  But without defining themselves on the basis of who and what they hate and fear.  Graham CAN compromise.  And he can hold the line.  He's reasonably intelligent and well seasoned.  I don't believe he is a homosexual, as some claim.  Not that being gay should rule anyone out.  Sadly, though, even the rumor taints a candidate.  I do NOT expect him to run. 

Sanford -- like Romney, Steele and Graham -- is quite conservative.  But he doesn't foam at the mouth like a DeMint.  I thought, for the longest time, that he was going to be a VP nominee this past cycle.  A.H. Duke, who I feel always delivers informed and reasonable evaluations of Carolina politics, suggests Sanford simply has no desire for higher office.  And that would seem to fit with the man.  By most accounts, he's quite humble and gracious.  It could be he's more than content to be governor of a growing and prosperous state.  I've heard it said he sounds more like a bumpkin when he speaks than a seasoned, Southern politician.  But these things can be tweaked and adjusted if someone is truly serious.

Off hand, I can't think of any other Republicans from these three states who would be Presidential candidates.  While I would welcome more moderate R's (Weld, Card, Cellucci) into a GOP Primary process -- I can't imagine that happening.  Aside from Steele, Maryland is pretty much without a GOP "name".  And South Carolina is already very well represented on the list of "possibles".  Though Bob Inglis could probably be convinced -- assuming the field is not already packed with House members who think they have a shot.