Top Republican's Drop Out

The other day we saw the drop out of two of the top Republican prospects for 2012 candidacy. Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas announced at the very end of his Fox News show after jamming with Ted Nugent on bass for "Cat Scratch Fever" and an interview with America's Best Dance Crew host, Mario Lopez (very national-leadership-type-stuff) that he would not in fact be running for president.

Then Donald Trump, apparently after having his feelings hurt too badly at the White House Correspondence Dinner this year, announced at the NBC Upfronts fall 2011 launch at a New York hotel, "I will not be running for president as much as I'd like to." The Donald, always one to maintain his ego, was sure to add, "I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election," expressing the equivalent of that childhood classic: 'I could do that, I just don't want too.'

This is actually extremely unusual. The nomination of the Republican candidate has always been somewhat of a coronation; there was always a clear heir-to-be. John McCain had earned it after so many attemps. George W. Bush was son to a President. Bob Dole had it on the same merits as McCain. George H. W. Bush was VP to Reagan. Ronald Reagan had run up second behind Ford. Ford was Nixon's VP. Nixon was Eisenhower's VP, and Eisenhower won us WWII.

But this year it is very much up in the air especially with the fact that so few of those capable of stirring up a popularity have actually declared. The only individual topping the polls who has declared canidacy is Mitt Romney and he has the stigma of having enacted a government health-care program in Massachusetts that served as the inspiration for Obama-care, the GOP's main attacking point.

Newt Gringrich has declared he will be running but short people never do well in election (i.e. Lincoln vs. Douglas primary). The man is so lacking in physical charisma that it is remarkable that he has been able to obtain so many wives and mistresses over the years, which is going to be a difficult issue for him to handle with the GOP's growing social-conservative base.