More on Barbour going to Iowa and NH
Haley Barbour is headlining GOP fundraisers in the presidential bellwether states of Iowa and New Hampshire during the last week of June, in preparation for what is widely speculated to be a 2012 presidential bid. Barbour, the second-term Governor of Mississippi, was Chairman of the RNC from 1993 to 1997, during which Republicans captured both houses of the United States Congress.
In 1991, Barbour founded one of the most powerful lobbying firms in the nation, BGR Group, and is widely considered to be one of the savviest political operatives in the GOP. However, there is concern among party members that Barbour, a white, conservative Republican from a Southern state, might not be able to attract younger voters and Independents in enough numbers to score a victory, and thus might be a poor choice to challenge President Obama.
According to Ed Gillespie, himself a former Chairman of the RNC, “Haley’s unique in that he’s a brilliant strategist who led the party and has also run in and won a competitive governor’s race.” Gillespie said that Barbour is respected by GOP voters and leaders, as well as many Democrats.
Examiner
Magnolia Tribune
