Republicans Face Wide-Open 2008 Presidential Showdown Without Clear Favorite

Strategic Insights -

The Republican Party will stage its first 2008 presidential showcase on Friday, but at least one contender will be notably absent: the George W. Bush candidate. President Bush and his political advisers appear to have no clear favorite among the prospective candidates. For their part, the potential candidates are looking for ways to contrast themselves with Bush, instead of trying to imitate him. Strategists say it would be a mistake to campaign as an extension of Bush, even though he is the first two-term Republican in the White House since Ronald Reagan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Republican Party has no clear favorite among the prospective candidates for the 2008 presidential election.
  • President Bush's popularity among Republican voters has declined, potentially impacting his potential successors.
  • The 2008 Republican nomination is considered the most wide-open in more than half a century.
  • Sen. John McCain of Arizona is regarded as the man to beat in the Republican nomination.
  • Other potential candidates include Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Sens. George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas, and Bill Frist of Tennessee.
  • The Republican campaign will start unofficially this weekend in Memphis, Tenn., with hundreds of activists from 26 states attending the event.
  • Govs. George Pataki of New York, Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will not attend the event.

Statistics:

  • 26 states will be represented at the Republican event in Memphis, Tenn.
  • 6 potential Republican candidates will be present at the event: Sen. John McCain, Govs. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, Sens. George Allen and Sam Brownback, and Sen. Bill Frist.
  • The Republican nomination is considered the most wide-open in more than half a century.
  • President Bush's second-term legacy is considered a factor in the wide-open nomination, with a sense on the Republican side that "08 can't get here fast enough" according to Tom Rath, a New Hampshire Republican close to the White House.

Sources:

  • The Baltimore Sun (Washington edition) - "No clear Bush favorite in '08 fight" by Paul West
  • Paul West, Special to The Baltimore Sun