Polls Show Republican 2012 Presidential Race Is Wide Open

Republican Elephant 2 SC Polls Show Republican 2012 Presidential Race Is Wide Open

The announcement by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that he had decided to explore the possibility of a presidential bid means the 2012 race for the Republican nomination is formally underway. Unlike in previous years, the race begins with no clear front-runner, something the venerable Gallup organization reports is “atypical.”

“The wide-open battle for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination—with nearly a three-way tie among Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Mitt Romney—is quite different from the typical pattern observed in past Republican nomination contests,” the polling firm said. “In Gallup polling since 1952, Republican Party nomination races always featured a clear front-runner at this stage of the campaign, and in almost all cases, that front-runner ultimately won the nomination.” [Vote now: Who is your pick for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination?]

There are plenty of people who want the job. Aside from Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are widely considered to already be in the race. Additionally, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was John McCain’s running mate in 2008, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain are all believed to be headed towards throwing their hats in the ring.

From 1952—the beginning of the post-war era in American politics—through 2008, there have been nine contests in which an incumbent Republican president was not seeking renomination. As Gallup reports from the archive of its polling data, “2008 is the only year in which the eventual nominee, John McCain, achieved front-runner status relatively late in the campaign cycle.” In the other campaigns, the eventual nominee “rose to the top of the pack in the year prior to the election,” and, in seven of those contests, the front-runner established his position by March, right after the crucial Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. [Read more about the 2012 presidential race.]

“History thus provides no guidelines for how today’s highly fragmented Republican race might play out, or for when a strong front-runner is likely to emerge, or who it will be,” Gallup said. “If the race remains close throughout 2011, it may also create unfamiliar political and fundraising dynamics for the national party. As of today, Huckabee is supported by 18 percent of Republicans and Republican leaners, while Palin and Romney are each favored by 16 percent. However, it is quite possible one of the three, or perhaps a different candidate, will break out from the pack before too long, particularly given that some of these candidates may decide not to run. And as the field is clarified, certain candidates may benefit more than others.”

Read More at USNews.com

Photo Credit: Donkey Hotey (Creative Commons)

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Comments

  1. "nearly a three-way tie among Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Mitt Romney"

    And yet Fox suspends Newt and whatizname while keeping Palin and the Huckster on board.

    The more the merrier, I say. It's a potentially entertaining group, at least.

    • James none are more entertaining that yourself ! My day would not be complete without my daily dose of your comical post!

    • Newt was really not used very much and I believe he knew he had to go early because he is really running. Huckster can't afford to go and will quite likely just try to hang on at Fox as long as he can. He is making more money than he has ever had. Then we have Sarah and as most on this site know that I really don't think she has a chance period. James last time I wrote the true about Sarah, I think we remember that was the day I got more thumbs down than you. She has more power now then she would if she loses the primary or the general election and I say she will sit this one out and shoot for 2016. She needs a little more lower 48 States time. She is now making more than she has ever made in her life, so her walking away from that for the chance of losing big time and not having a chance in 2016. Your pre-welcome James, cause here they come.

      • see James they are doing it to me. Feels good to be a rebel once in a while.

        • Welcome to the dark side. :-)

          • I prefer the "Right Side" for the White House" in 2012 The others on the ballot shall be after further review. I don't see anyone making a Democratic Primary this time, if someone does go for it, my guess would be Ohio Congressman Casintage. (Not sure of spelling) he ran last time and just does not follow well in the Democratic side. He is like 5'2 and he has a wife that looks about 7 foot tall next to him. He is the one that sued the Congresses cafeteria for damage to his teeth last year.

          • I think he also took Washington State last time in the Primary.

  2. ByeByeBarry says:

    The one willing to take on and ask for proof of "Who the He!! is Barack Obama/Barry Soetoro/Whoever" gets my vote, which I expect means none of them.

    • "which I expect means none of them"

      Yep.

    • I suggest Barry is not a candidates debate but rather the winners AG picks feast. If West, Cain or Palin take the top slot and choose a potent AG the policy they ran on, conservative principles, would dictate that redress be sought as granted in the first amendment. The petitions are all neatly stacked and gathering dust. It will only take one president with the interests of the people to read them ON AIR. End of tyranny, pronto.

  3. Geral Sills says:

    The top three people listed are not Presidential, and certainly won't get my vote. So far, Ron Paul is the only candidate who supports a Constitutional nation, and he has my vote, win, lose, or draw. I will not vote the lesser of two evils, and I truly suspect the Republican leadership doesn't really care who wins, for the controllers will remain in power, regardless of which of their candidates succeeds. Palin lost my vote when she backed that loser McCain for re-election. Romney is another Obamacare supporter, and Huckabee will open the door to illegal aliens. The Left and the Right are one and the same animal, and if people want to vote that same old trash back into office they can have it, and let Obama win. If Ron Paul does not run, there is a good chance I will vote for the Constitution or IAP candidate. Either we choose Freedom, or we can prepare to live on our knees as slaves.

    • Sorry; but all of the opposition you are suggesting are just going to lead to 4 More years of Barry. Ron Paul polls 20 to 25 percent below Barry. and throwing your vote to Constitution or IAP candidate that is going to pull 5 percent at the most of the vote is only going to lead to Barry and his gangsters for four more years. We can only defeat him with staying together. He would love to see a split in the right that only benefits Barry and his gangsters.

  4. ConservativeC says:

    Add Herman Cain to the possible candidates, as well as West.

  5. James already following the MEDIA picks. Well, I guess it's time to get to work and shelf the insiders who've held the reins of power and driven our horse and buggy into the mud hole where it lies to this day. I see only two choices, those who would govern by the law and those who have already shown they could give a hoot. Not too hard a choice is it?

    • So whom is your hope in this race?

      • To be fair, I want to see who is in before making any decisions. The list is still growing and I'd really hate to take sides until the candidates are all firmly in the running and the debates begin to peel away the smiles of talking heads. So far though I do have a few who I hope throw in and show us their stuff. Mr Cain has caught my attention too. I'm also going to factor in the one quality we have been overlooking and that is the personal makeup of the candidates. What makes them who they are. After all, one can become educated while in jail.

  6. Ahhh one of those bonding moment.

  7. I just noticed a interesting pattern at real clear politic polling site. When they show Barry's average they usually use the last 6 on a average. Today three had him at negative and they are using 8 to average today which gives him plus for the day. They threw in one that had him at plus 12, nothing wrong here move along. If you look at the one that have the most accuracy in the last few elections Barry is in the negative. The lesson we all need to remember is that Democrats will vote for whom ever it is no matter whom it is. We need to play the game the same way this time and stick together to make Barry a successful one term President. That my friends will hurt Barry more than any Impeachment ever would. His ego is so high that being rejected will burn in his brain for a lifetime.

  8. Don't be so sure he'll be even in the race. He still has to get on the ballot.

    • Who Barry? On the Ballet? The Democrats have already printed out the Nomination form and it has Hillary riding shoot gun. All the laws being passed right now for long form birth certificate do not go into effect until 2013. So brirthers or not he is getting a pass on that. So if that is what your hoping for, not going to happen. We need to focus on ONE TERM which will lead to his last three months as a lame duck and bring his Presidency to a end in 19 months from now. That is the game I'm in on. Birther /smurfer he won that round no matter whom is correct.

      • Montana's bill 205is effective on passage andapproval Texas bill 295 has an effective date of Sept. 1, 2011 If you are refering to H.R. 1503 , it is to be ready by election time as well. Your statement that “all laws being passed right now for long form birth certificate do not go into effect until 2013″is therefore not accurate. The constitution is still the law of the land and theissue of defining who is a NBC and who is a 14th amendment citizenwill not be lost in a courtuntil it is heard inthe supremecourt. The game you are in on ? Seeking credibility ? From: notifications@intensedebatemail.comTo: adirondack_1@hotmail.comSubject: ireuel replied to your comment on Polls Show Republican 2012 Presidential Race Is Wide Open

  9. Please read Barry's comment from Tuesday; He wants this to be an issue and he is winning that debate.

    I think there's nothing — there's no weakness in us trying to reach out and seeing if we can find common ground. Now, there are going to be times where we can't. I was born in Hawaii, what can I say? I mean, I just… I can't change those facts.

    He is playing this to the hilt and he supporters are eating it up. He always throws a joke in there once in a while just to keep it news. He has the Birther movement right where he wants it and the Left Stream Press is playing along.

    Remember if you want to pop his ego; One Term is the Answer. It will haunt him the rest of his entire life. Look at Jimmy "Biily Beer" Carter, he is always so angry lately isn't he. Just saying.

  10. If the Republican party thinks we, the conservative people, will even consider a "moderate" candidate in the 2012 election they can go ahead and write off the election now! Romney is NOT a conservative! This party will split and the communists/facists Dems will win if the elites controling the Reps. dont read the signs and nominate a true constitutional conservative AND put the Fair Tax into their platform. Rino's are worse than Dems. Atleast Dems are truthful in their desire to destroy the country and remake it in Stalins image. Rino's will achieve the same objective only with more misery and pain.

  11. TO be sure we all have our favorite and not so favorite candidates vying for the nomination. However
    we must remember that whomever gets the nod as the Republican candidate against Obozo, must
    get our vote. As distasteful as this may be to some of you, NO one could be as bad as what we have as POTUS. I personlally can't afford another 4 years of this POS, so a compromise, though not the best scenario, is way better than what we have now. This moron must be a one-term POTUS only.

  12. Darryl Davison says:

    New book by Mass. lady who started as a Romney supporter; then came dislike of many of his decisions (such as knowingly appointing 3 liberal homosexuals to the state Supreme Court) that lead to lots of research which led to the book. After hearing some of an interview on Des Moines radio
    WHO I missed name of book, but certainly will do some investigation on my own, and am ready to write Romney off as just another RINO Progressive. Research the book for yourself…see what you think. Thanks!

  13. Carol Gerber says:

    Comic Book Polls Something The Libs Make-Up As They Drink That Obamcare Kool-Aid, Yikeess, If The Manchurian Pres Obamacare Takes On Mr Trump About All Records In His Lock-Box And Hides Anything From Mr Trump, The Jig Is Up Buckwheat. God Bless America And Sarah Palin POTUS.

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