U.S. TV networks are on high alert for a potential Chris Christie presidential announcement—yea or nay—on Monday. But the New Jersey governor may not be the only Republican mulling a late entry into the presidential race. Tell me what you know, Reuters:
Mike Huckabee has been approached by Republican and conservative activists unhappy with the current crop of presidential hopefuls and he is considering entering the fray, two sources who have spoken with Huckabee told Reuters.
But the conservative Huckabee, who appeals to evangelical Christians and is seen as an effective campaigner, is taking another look at jumping in, said the two sources, who are close to Huckabee. They spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
“He is entertaining the request for conversations about it,” one of the sources said. “I do not think it is a complete 100 percent ‘I’m reconsidering’ but he hasn’t shut the door on it.”
One of the sources said Huckabee was urged to enter after the recent stumbles of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who appeals to a similar right wing of the Republican party.
This wouldn’t surprise me, not with the GOP race in such a state of flux. And at the same time, the economic backdrop is looking worse and worse for an Obama reelection. Not only is the economy growing at stall speed, but a potential financial crisis in Europe and a hard landing in China could sink the global economy in 2012. As it is, Obama’s approval ratings look like this, according to Gallup:
Republican presidential hopefuls who sit this one out may be making the same mistake as Dems in 1992 who thought George H. W. Bush unbeatable.
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So, the incentive to run rises as Obama’s fortunes falter. But qualifications for the office are the same. If Huckaby, Christie, etc., are qualified, why didn’t they tell us this earlier? If they have serious ideas for resolving some of the nation’s difficulties, let’s hear them and then see whether these fellows are worthy of support. At this point mere opportunistic behavior isn’t enough.