An interesting survey from Conservative Home USA reports that the conservative intelligentsia – much of it DC-based – doesn’t think much of the Republican party’s presidential hopefuls. Asked to rank possible contenders across eight categories the only people to score highly are, wait for it, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and Mitch Daniels.
Keen-eyed readers will notice that Christie has been offering super-Shermanesque denials about running, Bush is, well, a Bush and Daniels is also ambivalent about entering the race. So who’s left? A motley crew of people Conservative Home’s panel of “insiders and influencers” consider less than ideal candidates. Here’s a box-ticking summary:
Among the notable things to consider here is the extent to which a Romney or a Pawlenty may have to pitch themselves as the most acceptable compromise candidate. Unfortunately “Settle for me! Please!” is not a great campaign theme.
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