Fred Malek ranks top candidates in GOP, Barbour #3
I have enjoyed assiduously Chris Cillizza’s frequent articles on the top ten most influential Republicans and have had the privilege of knowing some of them quite well through my chairmanship of the Executive Roundtable for the Republican Governor’s Association. This, plus concerns on the current Administration’s direction (think assault on free enterprise and march toward socialism) have led me to some early thoughts on who might both lead our party back and who might be our nominee in 2012.
So, for better, or for worse, based on my personal experiences, here are my top ten who are leading the debate today, some of whom we should be looking to for 2012. Given that I believe the solutions to most of our country’s problems aren’t found in Washington, you will find few on my list who serve in Congress.
1. Mitt Romney — The almost-nominee with the established organization, fundraising network, time, and talent to get the nomination this time. He does retain an image problem with some Republicans, who are not sold on his conservative credentials or upset with him for changing his emphasis of issues from his time as governor to presidential candidate. But he is self-aware and very smart. I believe he will start reintroducing himself early on, and possibly be in the best position when the serious campaigning begins in early 2011.
2. Mark Sanford — Mark is the soft spoken but thoughtful and challenging leader of RGA. He could be a challenger to Mitt or on the ticket if he decides to go that way. His leadership on the stimulus funds was extremely important to the integrity of our small government values by rejecting the federal bailout in the first place and solution-minded innovation by agreeing to accept the money if and only if the South Carolina legislature used it to pay down the state’s debt. At a time when the Republican Party needs to offer creative solutions, Mark is doing exactly that.
3. Haley Barbour — Extremely sound on policies, clear thinking and the best political strategist, well liked by all factions, more likely a king maker than king, but one never knows. As governor of Mississippi, he did a far better job responding to Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath than Kathleen Blanco. Now she is not in office, but Barbour still is. He does not have the best name recognition, which may be a good thing considering that much of his career had been based in Washington. Now that he has credibility as an effective governor, that background may no longer be a liability, and should help him with fundraising. And he has always been a terrific organizer. Haley was RNC chairman during the 1994 Republican revolution. Maybe he has some ideas about how to recapture that spirit.
Fred Malek Blog
5/20/9
POLITICO STORY
GOP kingmaker leans toward Mitt Romney
Fred Malek, a heavyweight Republican fundraiser and kingmaker, has singled out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the GOP’s leading contender in the early stages of the 2012 Republican presidential derby.
In a largely unnoticed post to his blog late last week, Malek, a wealthy businessman who served as national finance co-chair of John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, ranked Romney No. 1 on a list of influential Republicans “who might both lead our party back and who might be our nominee in 2012.”
Malek, who did not return an email requesting comment from POLITICO, blogged that Romney has “the established organization, fundraising network, time, and talent to get the nomination this time” and predicted he could “be in the best position when the serious campaigning begins in early 2011.”
Though Malek conceded Romney “does retain an image problem with some Republicans, who are not sold on his conservative credentials or upset with him for changing his emphasis of issues from his time as governor to presidential candidate,” he called Romney “self-aware and very smart.”
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who is popular among fiscal conservatives, ranked second on Malek’s list. Sanford recently attended a dinner with major GOP donors at Malek’s McLean, Va., home. The dinner, held the night before this month’s White House Correspondents Association event, was intended to help party donors shop for a 2012 candidate.
Malek pegged Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour third, praising him as “extremely sound on policies, clear thinking and the best political strategist,” but pointing out “he does not have the best name recognition” and asserting he’s “more likely a king maker than king, but one never knows.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22736.html#ixzz0G43e56bk&B
Politico
5/20/9
Magnolia Tribune
