Palin, Huckabee Lead 2012 GOP Contenders

Boston.com reports the latest 2012 polling among Republicans:

The results: 29 percent said Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate last year; 26 percent said former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who sought the nomination last year; and 21 percent said former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who also ran last year.

Huckabee spoke Thursday to the Conservative Poliitcal Action Conference, where he called for "family conservatives," "fiscal conservatives," and "freedom conservatives" to unite as "compentent conservatives." Romney is scheduled to speak this afternoon. Palin cancelled her appearance, saying she was too busy as governor.

Another 9 percent answered Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, but that was before his widely disparaged performance on Tuesday night giving the official Republican response to President Obama's address to Congress. And 10 percent named other candidates.

What? No one wants McCain to go another round? Ha. Sarah Palin is no surprise, nationwide name recognition, lots of love from the right-leaning crowd, open question whether she'll go for it or not. Eventually I think, but possibly not 2012. I definitely appreciate that she's focusing on Alaska, that is exactly the right thing for her to do, both for Alaska and her future prospects.

Huckabee and Romney are in for sure, but both have wide swaths of GOP voters that detest them, fiscal and social conservatives respectively. Both have serious bridge building to do, and I think they know it.

Bobby Jindal is still a strong possibility, being able to unite the conservative wings more ably than Huckabee or Romney seem to. Yes he had a bad speech apparently, but no, I don't think in the long run it will make that much of a difference. The liberals panned Sarah Palin's substance, and now they're panning Jindal's style. I guess we can't catch a break.

Also, I love a news story that misspells competent, political and canceled all in the same paragraph. Spell-check anyone?