Today's Situation Room:
Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
BLITZER'S BLOG: Is there room for more in the GOP presidential race?
By CNN's Wolf Blitzer
(CNN) – And then there was one; maybe two.
I’m talking about Republicans still flirting with the idea of running for the party’s presidential nomination even though it’s very late in the process.
Sarah Palin says she’s still considering that option; Rudy Giuliani apparently is also thinking about it.
My instinct tells me neither is likely to jump in.
Among the earlier no-shows: Mitch Daniels, Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour, Paul Ryan, Donald Trump and Jeb Bush.
So with Chris Christie out, that means we now know the Republican field. One of those candidates you’ve seen on the stage at the various debates will almost certainly challenge President Obama.
We obviously don’t know if it will be Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Rick Perry or one of the other candidates, but a lot of the establishment-type Republicans appear increasingly ready to accept Romney as the safest bet. To them, he seems to be the most electable.
Still, that is by no means a done deal.
A lot can certainly happen in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida and beyond.
There’s also a chance that there will be a serious third-party candidate. Yes, I’m not ruling that out.
Let’s not forget that Ross Perot was doing very well back in 1992 against George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton until the Texas billionaire abruptly pulled out, and then, almost as abruptly, came back in.
Third-party wild cards this time could include Trump, Michael Bloomberg and maybe even Ron Paul. The Texas congressman insists he’s running as a Republican, but he certainly has a strong following among libertarians. Let’s not forget he ran as the official Libertarian Party candidate in 1988.
And if you’ve watched the debates and heard his interviews, you know he is increasingly the sole Republican presidential voice on several hot-button issues, including pulling out immediately from Iraq, Afghanistan and other bases around the world. He has most recently raised the question about whether Obama should be impeached for ordering the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki.
I’ve covered many presidential contests over the years. This one will be fascinating. Between now and November 2012, we are all in for a wild ride.
RELATED: Christie: 'Now is not my time'
 |
Post by: Filed under: 2012 election • Wolf Blitzer |
About this Show
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is the command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Tune in weeknights from 5-7pm ET on CNN.
On Twitter
Occupy Wall Street ........Got room for more ?
Just when I thought the far right couldn't get any stranger, they go and portray all the Occupy Wall Street protesters as fringe nut jobs....they truly don't get it. As the economic disparity between the haves and the have nots widens you will see more and more unrest. This is a basic social principle. Democracy has worked for us for as long as it has because we had a tremendous middle class base. But now the irresponsible dealings of those who have control of OUR money (that includes Wall Street and the Government) have left hardworking people with no retirements and no jobs. It is very hard to work all your life so you won't be a burden to your children, only to have all your savings disappear – and those that caused it to happen only get richer. GOP WAKE UP!! Help to regulate the financial institurions to protect pensions and retirement funds.. AND .quit trying to push your so-called moral agenda on us. As times get worse, demonstrations can turn violent....and that will be on your shoulders.
TThe rest of the world looks on with blank amazement at the machinations of what passes for debate by the political elite in the worlds only remaining superpower. With the current crop of Republican clowns running for the top job the Chinese must be rolling with laughter. That because the last series of Presidents, excluding Obama, who has tried valiantly drag the country out of the financial debacle he inherited from GWB, might be followed by yet another Republican. Hey, with another Republican in the White House the States might get far enough in debt to China that the entire Chinese defense budget might be covered by the interest the US has to pay them.
I've voted for Ron Paul for every time he's announced his candidacy. He's the reason why I switched to Republican and voted for him in the primary.
Who cares? All Conservatives are the same. They are as interchangeable as lightbulbs.
Google Cantor. He was a "conservative" spoiled child and hasn't changed.
Methinks one would be concerned about our present situation...Obamas numbers droping, Holder under investigation for Fast and Furious" debacle, Solyndra spending 1 million dollars per day of our money and the quick last minute adjustment to loan such that all of the "millionaire" investors get something back but the taxpayers never will. And we're talking about GOP candidates...a bit absurd
I think youre right. Hilliary would make a great third party entry. All of the disaffected voters would flock to her side instead of staying home
Whoa, whoa, whoa! There's something wrong with the ones that are running right now? I thought the best of the best are already in the spotlight. They even have Newt Gingrich. I don't know what the hell that arrogant, condescending cuss is doing in the race, but ok. Might just as well throw one more in there than not. However, without Christie, who's gonna...oh!! Palin!... Palin!.. Palin! Will the ol' money grubber heed the call?
News flash, repeat, the man has said no,no,no,no,no,no. Why do you guys try to make any kind of story out of this, you are wasting everyone time ,you should be uncoving all the bad things going on in texas.
I can't help wondering who will run on the Democrat side....
Why did Christie bomb out? He's was after all TOO BIG TO FAIL! 😉
I think there is cetainly plenty of room for a relatively sane individual whose IQ exceeds their shoe size. But where to find THAT in todays Republican Party?
Yes the Republican AND THE TEA PARTY IS TURNING It Into a Circus. So I guess they need a bigger Tent to put all the Clowns In.
Ron Paul is the only one worth voting for. Real Hope. Real Change. Ron Paul 2012!!!
We need a balanced approach. 4 years of a conservative ideologue should get us off the cliff edge that the President has put us on.
The current crop of extreme right wing candidates are all different shades of lipstick on the same pig. They all share the same failed ideology. With Christie you had a moderate that might have actually been able to work with Democrats. However, he is too liberal for current GOP.
That's not true. Ron Paul stood is nothing like the rest of these bought and paid for candidates. Do some research, and I don't mean that condescendingly.
What about Mitt? Is he also a right wing extreamist, or center-right? And is he isn't, can he be nominated?
Thanks for pointing out for all on this board your total ignorance of the very subject that you would so dearly like to participate in debate over. Beyond that your post is not worthy of further comment!!
CHRISTIE HAS BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS HE WAS NOT RUNNING!!!
Hate using all caps, but the stupidity of the media machine is ridiculous. This should not effect the GOP race in any way, shape, or form. He was never running, he said it time and time again.
I think this blame on the media is rather naive; you really need to look at who is pulling the strings – the media just drools over any press conference or candidate that juice it up – look behind the scenes to the backers and strategists that have been pressuring him to run. The same is true of Ron Paul – his devoted followers are constantly on here blasting media but the media doesn't vote – their own party won't vote for Ron Paul. That doesn't make media blameless, but take a broader view.
I Would Definetly Love To See A Third Party Candidate Jump Into The Race Later On Or Maybe See Hillary Clinton Run Against President Obama As A Democrat Like Edward Kennedy Did Against Former President Jimmy Carter In 1980!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
Switch you party affiliation to Republican so you can vote for Ron Paul in the primaries. It's not what your registered as but how you vote and its outcome on the future of our country for Americans.
Yes, there is room. Al Bundy should enter the race. He looks like a Republican candidate. He has that George Bush look on his face.
Well ironically he would after all be running against the JJ lookalike from the Jeffersons so perhaps the race would be far more competitive than you may have realized!
I love the title. In other words all the candidates are garbage and everybody knows it, and we know the media won't allow Ron Paul to be the front runner.
Don't let the Mass Media manipulate you and tell you who you can vote for. Vote for Ron Paul.
Huh? How is the media responsible for that? Why don't you place the blame where it belongs – on your OWN party – the GOP has twice turned him down, thats not the public's fault, not the medias fault – its your party's fault.
I would have voted for him in a previous election...but his latest tirades against the evils of medicare and social security make me doubt him. I dont think his extremist anti-government stance is right for America, and I think the majority of Americans would agree with me.
Mitt Romney will be the nominee and Obama might as well start packing now.
The funny part is you actually believe that.
yep, pretty much
Not very good at picking winners are you Shecky? Stick to dog races and football pools. Can't flush the country down the drain picking those "winners".
Wolf and the CNN staff do desperately need to understand that none of the announced republican candidates and none of the potential candidates are qualified to lead our nation. Our President has done a masterful job, and would have accomplished a lot more, had not the corporate-funded obstructionists spent millions of dollars on stifling progress.
Yes indeed my friend if the goalmwas to economically destroy the nation your braintrust has done and continues to do a wonderful job! I'm fairly surprised that you manage to read and write if you honestly believe your own BS!
with the top having so much bottom i expect a brokered convention
Bring in the clowns.
.
A plate of cold cuts could run for the GOP nomination and win if it promised to cut corporate taxes, execute all felons, make being gay a felony, cut corporate taxes, make abortion a felony, go to war with Iran and Pakistan at the same time, reduce healthcare coverage and cut corporate taxes.
Actually thet plate of coldcuts has been running things for nearly three years and look how well it's turned out for the nation? I'm assuming that was what made you think of the cold cuts analogy to begin with perhaps??
sorry, we want ron paul.
who is "we", dont kid yourself, you speak only for yourself.
The more choices the better, I wish the Dems would offer up another choice and the media would treat the other platforms with the same amount of coverage.
And they would – if it were a Democratic primary – but it isn't – this is not even about Obama – it is about the GOP selecting its leader – that's the issue.
Sarah Palin says she’s still considering that option
---
Seriously media?!? You're still allowing her to play her game, and following right along? What fools you all are. She's playing you....won't run, never had any intention to run. She's a celebrity, nothing more.
She's waiting for the debates to be over then and only then will she decide to put her name in.
Fools? I don't think so – its all part of a cynical game; the media knows she is unlikely to run, but she stops anywhere on her Bus to Nowhere and its a photoop, a story, and kaboom you have a million eyeballs on a fresh story. And the ad revenue that feeds it.
C'mon Man!... It's a Clown Car, there's ALWAYS room for one more!
Palin is going to get in near the end. She has to be a "maverick" but she has to continue to be a candidate or she'll have no political clout. As soon as she fails to run she will be irrelevant. So, she will run and even in a loss she'll just blame "the media" or someone else.
The main problem for Republicans is the Tea Party. Some Republicans are reasonable and could win. But, the Tea Party zealots are going to demand some insane religious, science hating, racist is nominated.
I'd bet 20 she wont and 5 she will just to hedge it a bit. But you are right about her ...she would pull out her "lamestream media" card – even if polls show GOP voters dont want her to run.
The GOP hopefuls are way too crazy for mainstream (or is it lamestream?) voters to stomach. Romney is the best of them but everyone makes an effort to forget him because his invisible sky daddy stories are different than most Americans invisible sky daddy stories.
I am sorry but I would not go near the GOP even if you payed me.your party is nothing like it used to be and what it used to stand for.You are now the FAKE GOP.
Even more? How about Bozo, is he still around? If not how about Ronald McDonald he is a successful business man (clown) perfect candidate for today's GOP party.
Sad thing is that today's GOP is not your grandfather's GOP, today's GOP is the party of people with questionable rationale (mental stability) the only 'sane' candidate is not even a Republikkkan he is a Libertarian and he is not going to win. Invade Mexico? Pray away the Gay? Take Arabs' oil? Come on! What is going on?
This headline should read: "Room for More in the GOP Clown Car?"
There certainly is room on the Democratic side for new candidates to challenge Obama, who is ruining this country. I would hope the DNC would see this train wreck coming to the Party, and try to get someone to run against Obama in the primary.
As for the GOP, they have plenty of fine candidates and no more are needed. Any one of the GOP candidates would be a substantial improvement over Obama
Agree 100% DC!
If only you could focus on your own party – the Dems arent the one picking a leader – maybe you should start paying more attention to your own candidates.
Herman Cain is the only one with good business experience to run this county and get it financially back on it's feet.Bachman or Palin with him will walk away with the election.All the others,Rep. and Dem. nedd to quit wasting our time and theirs.We need somebody tough and with some brains now.Jim Thomas Phx. Az.
You speak of Ron Paul. He's the only one with the brains and the guts to get things done.
It's just not going to happen, Pain is not even in, Bachmann is trailing in single digits, and Cain has no legislative experience at all – I'm sorry but I want someone with solid credentials – and Cain is definitely not the right fit.
If Palin doesn't run her public career is over, so I still think she is running. Lindsey Graham is in the shadows and now that Christie is out for good, Party Establishment types not happy with Romney, may encourage Lindsey to run. Doug.
Palin is a wannabe presidential pretender. She won't run because she's an intellectual midget. Why would she mess with her Fox paycheck? Come to think of it, why does Fox pay her?
Yes, there is room for more, All the circus has to do is move to a bigger tent.