Mike Huckabee, the amiable former governor of Arkansas and Fox News media personality, has decided after all not to run for president. It seems that he does not want to be president and is instead happy doing what he is doing.
That leaves the question, if not Huckabee, then who? The former governor had a big following among social conservatives, a considerable voting bloc in the Republican Party. Now that voting bloc has to find someone else to rally around.
But whom? There are a few people one can automatically cross off the list. Donald Trump has too much of a playboy image. Ron Paul's libertarian views on social issues are too off putting. Mitt Romney is seen as a Northeastern liberal. Newt Gingrich, while he will make a play for the social conservatives as a repentant sinner, still has the divorce issue hanging around his neck.
The safe but boring candidates, such as Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels, might have some appeal, Daniels' somewhat interesting marital history notwithstanding. Rick Santorum might have a shot, though he is considered a long shot candidate.
Bad poll numbers aside, Palin seems uniquely positioned to take advantage of Huckabee's absence from the race. Unique of all the other potential candidates, she has appeal for social, economic and national security conservatives. She appeals to the latter two because of her cogent critique of Obama administration policies. She appeals to the first because of herself, her conservative religious lifestyle, and her obviously cohesive, loving family. Even her daughter Bristol Palin's history fits into the appeal; there is nothing evangelicals love more than a story of sin, repentance, and redemption.
What is more, a plurality of Republicans have announced themselves to be dissatisfied with the current presidential candidates. No one running or having been mentioned to run seems to stir the blood.
That seems to be the perfect door for the Lady from Wasilla, someone proven to be able to bring a hundred thousand partisans to their feet, to pass through. The question remains, though, will she?
That leaves the question, if not Huckabee, then who? The former governor had a big following among social conservatives, a considerable voting bloc in the Republican Party. Now that voting bloc has to find someone else to rally around.
But whom? There are a few people one can automatically cross off the list. Donald Trump has too much of a playboy image. Ron Paul's libertarian views on social issues are too off putting. Mitt Romney is seen as a Northeastern liberal. Newt Gingrich, while he will make a play for the social conservatives as a repentant sinner, still has the divorce issue hanging around his neck.
The safe but boring candidates, such as Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels, might have some appeal, Daniels' somewhat interesting marital history notwithstanding. Rick Santorum might have a shot, though he is considered a long shot candidate.
That leaves us to the one person that the pundits are writing off, albeit prematurely. Her name is Sarah Palin, whose existence is the unacknowledged 800-pound Mama Grizzly in the room.
Bad poll numbers aside, Palin seems uniquely positioned to take advantage of Huckabee's absence from the race. Unique of all the other potential candidates, she has appeal for social, economic and national security conservatives. She appeals to the latter two because of her cogent critique of Obama administration policies. She appeals to the first because of herself, her conservative religious lifestyle, and her obviously cohesive, loving family. Even her daughter Bristol Palin's history fits into the appeal; there is nothing evangelicals love more than a story of sin, repentance, and redemption.
What is more, a plurality of Republicans have announced themselves to be dissatisfied with the current presidential candidates. No one running or having been mentioned to run seems to stir the blood.
That seems to be the perfect door for the Lady from Wasilla, someone proven to be able to bring a hundred thousand partisans to their feet, to pass through. The question remains, though, will she?
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