Call Me GOP

In an interview with POLITICO, Newt Gingrich advised Sarah Palin on what she needed to do to make a political comeback in 2012: write a book detailing her political ideologies and experiences; become a regular TV commentator; establish a base in NY or DC; master the art of three kinds of speeches (to fundraise, “project her brand,” and campaign); and be prepared for the work ahead.

This seems like sound advice for any presidential hopeful, but the work doesn’t end there. What else would you tell Palin — or anyone getting ready for a 2012 presidential run?

(via)

As we noted yesterday, Rick Santorum is looking to step up in the Republican Party by moving in on Iowa. Mark McKinnon, former Bush and McCain strategist, says a Santorum presidency would be very (very) dangerous for the country. Not only does McKinnon disagree with his neoconservative views, but he also says he’s more concerned with Santorum’s “lack of character.”

Are there enough Republicans to back such a far-right candidate or will the voice of a more moderate G.O.P. win out in the end?

Rick Santorum is looking to move up in the Republican Party. The former senator from Pennsylvania plans to visit Iowa this October for a series of discussions, fundraisers, and workshops with other key conservatives.

Iowa is often a state where presidential hopefuls “test the water,” so we can probably add Santorum to the ever-growing list of potential candidates. But is an outspoken social conservative like he what Republicans are looking for? What would Mitt Romney (your choice) have to say about him as a candidate in the 2012 race?

(via Politico)

Since the G.O.P. has been unable to make gains with non-white voters, they may consider reverting to a “white voter strategy.” Reminiscent of its “southern strategy,” which was effective when parties were more clearly divided along regional lines, this new focus targets white voters whose opinions of Obama have fallen.

The Huffington Post reports that it’s unlikely the G.O.P. can attract Hispanic voters based on the Republican stance on immigration and, more recently, their opposition to Sonia Sotomayor’s appointment. Similarly, its unlikely to gain the African-American vote given the loud “race-baiting commentary” from the far right. In fact, among Hispanics, Obama’s ratings have slipped only insignificantly, and he’s gained points with African-American voters. But a Gallup poll reports that his approval rating has dropped from 75% to 58% since January.

However, this “white voter strategy” seems dangerous for many reasons. Is this another example of the G.O.P. being an exclusionary group? Especially as our country becomes more diverse, how can the Republican Party win without significant support from Hispanic and African-American voters?

Republicans rejoice that the congressional generic ballot is closer than it’s been in five years, yet the G.O.P. still isn’t seen as a positive alternative to Democrats.

Politico outlines a few strategies the G.O.P. should think about in upcoming years, including keeping the president in check, winning on the issues, capturing the youth vote, and reaching out to Hispanic and African-American voters. These suggestions are just the beginning, though. What else could be added to this list to make the Republican Party a stronger force in the future?

Tim Pawlenty took a shot at Mitt Romney attacking Massachusetts’ health-care program. Maybe he heard about our tournament? More likely he’s thinking about bigger things, like the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, for which both are strong contenders.

There’s been a lot of noise about Romney here but not as much enthusiasm for Tim Pawlenty, who’s in a fierce race to beat Eric Cantor in the Final Four. Why would or wouldn’t Pawlenty be an appropriate voice for the G.O.P.? What qualities does he posses (or lack) that would affect your support of him, and why?

One of our G.O.P. Great Eight, Tim Pawlenty, is stepping up his efforts to introduce himself as a contender in the 2012 election. Later this month, the Minnesota governor will address national committee members, which will help position him as a more influential party leader. But can he get ahead of the likes of, say, a Mitt Romney? Why has he, so far, flown under the radar, and how can he gain the political edge?

This Rasmussen report indicates that if the 2012 election were held today, Obama would face fierce competition from possible Republican nominee, Mitt Romney — followed closely by Sarah Palin. However, the president remains ahead. What does the G.O.P. have to do to beat the president if he seeks a second term?

If you can overlook the poor website design, this is an interesting (at least fun) calculator that will determine the ideal 2012 candidate for you based on your positions and values. What are your results and how accurate do you think they are?

Who’s emerging as the favorite G.O.P. candidate for 2012? Mitt Romney, a recent Gallup poll indicates. In fact, over a quarter of Republicans and Republican-leaning citizens polled favor him. What does this man offer that the other candidates don’t?

Read about it at FOX.