Which currently running Republican represents the biggest threat to a 2nd Obama term?

[matmar]

Having answered that, which Republican currently NOT running (if they were to run) represents a threat to a 2nd Obama term?

[Deep13]

1. Any of them. The problem is 10% unemployment...

...not which asshole the Rs pick.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. I disagree

Obama and the Democrats can easily make the case that just about any of them would be FAR WORSE for the country and that Obama represents stability and the best hope for progress.

[Deep13]

9. Yeah, he can make the case. Will anyone listen? nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

23. Depending on who he's up against

It happened in 2008 as a lot of people voted for him largely because they were alarmed over who McCain picked for his VP and saw him as the sane and stable one. Yeah, they went right back to voting Republican again afterwards because they got brainwashed by Faux News and Glenn Beck-inspired propaganda spreading lies about him being a "socialist" and how horrible that is. However, next year, I expect a "Palin-esque" candidate to actually be on the top of the ticket because I don't think that "Tea Party" will accept anything less and the GOP is too much in thrall to them to buck them and I think that they will once again have to decide whether they want President Obama at the helm or some crazy wild-eyed Teabagger running the show (though technically, whoever wins will have to pander to the teabaggers, so there's really no difference). As an aside, I think the only way to defeat the Tea Party and the destructive influence they have over the Republican Party/country is for them to nominate a teabagger favorite for POTUS on the Republican ticket and then have them crash and burn in the GE. :shrug:

[Deep13]

26. I hope you're right.

Every time I think the Rs have nominated someone too RW for the voters, he ends up winning.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

38. The Republicans don't seem to have any ceiling on "teh crazy"

that's for sure. That being said, most of the current field seems waaayyyy too crazy for most Americans IMHO and I don't honestly believe that any of them would be able to stand toe-to-toe with President Obama in an actual debate.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Huntsman because he's playing the middle, like Obama.

[timber84]

6. I would have agreed with you.

Until I saw this am that he said he would not mind being Bachmann's running mate.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I agree. That killed his candidacy

First, it says he'll settle for second. Second, he'll settle for second to a fucking loon.

[matmar]

15. Thanks for the chuckle....

but keep in mind, they're all playing for the crazy vote right now in the Primaries, afterwhich they must tack to the middle/left in order to get elected

[michaelslomo]

24. Neither one has a chance.

Bachmann has very little chance of getting the nomination--as much as we might like, since she would be easier to beat than even Palin. And Huntsman has zero chance of getting the nomination.

[dynasaw]

37. Actually a Smart Move

He would win over her constituency and as VP she'd pretty much be stuffed away
in some back room (hopefully gagged and bound.)

[florida_lurker]

7. At this point in 2007...

...Obama wasn't the middle of the road candidate.

[matmar]

11. Can Huntsman make it out of the primaries?

How much power does the voting block known as the Tea Party have in the Primary elections? If he is viewed as "not crazy enough" he won't make it past the short bus crowd in the Tea Party.

[emulatorloo]

31. Agreed, there is no way Huntsman can get past the primary voters. n/t

[Ineeda]

4. None of them. They're all nuts, each and every one!

I also believe the economy, and especially employment will improve, and that will help.

[florida_lurker]

5. Perry

He's willing to do anything and say anything to help his political standing.

People can say knee jerk and say that about all republicans but that's more about myopic hatred than anything else. The others do have some sort of standards.

Perry, one of the Texas Democrats who flipped to republican to stay in office during the 80s, is actually a big government guy (Gardasil, Trans Texas Corridor, etc.) who will say anything and do anything for a vote.

[Little Star]

10. If they were to run....

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Scott Brown. I'm sure there are a few other A listers. But they will not run in 2012. The A team will run in 2016.

[Lucky 13]

12. All represent some threat.

Huntsman would be the hardest for him to beat, since they both adore the squishy, oozing center.

But Bachmann or Perry is a huge threat because there is a segment of our society that is as batshit, looney toon crazy as they are.

Greater likelihood of defeat: Huntsman. Greater repercussions IF defeated: Bachmann/Perry.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

13. Mitt Romney or John Huntsman but they both have problems

with the crazy ass Republican base. I'm still betting on Romney though as he is the corporatism who knows how to play ball with the wealthy and hence will be able to get more financial support. Huntsman however, is way to sane to ever overcome the resistance of the bat crap crazy right, he believes that marijuana should be legalized, but he does bring a much needed rational voice to the Republican debate.

On Edit:

According to the latest Gallup poll, the top four Republican presidential candidates are running neck-and-neck with President Barack Obama in national general election matchups.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-MA, leads President Obama, 48 to 46 percent.

Gov. Rick Perry, R-TX, ties with President Obama at 47 percent each.

Obama leads Tea Party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, 48 to 44 percent.

[zipplewrath]

17. Bingo

If the economy worsens, and the campaigns become about jobs and the economy, Obama's in deep trouble against Romeny and some extent Huntsman. They'll have more "credibility" on some issues, and Obama will be stuck with what he's accomplished, not what he advocates.

The rest of them won't sound credible at all. They'll sound like McCain in the last election.

[MadHound]

14. Obama,

The only reason he will fail in his reelection bid is because of his own actions and mistakes. The Republican party has a fatal flaw, it is deeply divided. If a moderate is nominated, somebody like Romney or Huntsman, they will fail because the rabid right Teabaggers will stay home and not vote because the candidate isn't pure enough for them.

If a rabid Teabagger like Perry or Bachmann gets the nomination, they will fail because the Republican moneymakers won't open their checkbooks for such an obviously insane candidate. This is why the McCain/Palin ticket failed.

Thus, the only one who can really defeat Obama is himself, and so far, he's doing a pretty decent job of that, the way he continues to piss off core constituencies.

[matmar]

16. No argument here. n/t

[dynasaw]

18. Huntsman

The GOP itself isn't too happy with the current crop that's making the big noise out there and calling for more candidates.
(See Eugene Robinson's take at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gop-is-fed-up-with-its-choices/2011/08/22/gIQAvx1NXJ_story.html?hpid=z2 )

I am hearing some disaffected democrats who see Huntsman as a moderate Republican (at least he's pro-science,supports evolution, and has broad
international experience especially in Asia) --they could cross over to vote for. Obama also captured a lot undecideds in 2008 and crossover Republicans.
These folks may return to the republican party for a candidate like Huntsman. Personality- wise he isn't off the wall crazy. In a volatile economic climate the more solid, even duller candidate may be what people will turn to.

I am a democrat and I think we need to be careful about dismissing this one too quickly.

[matmar]

20. I think Huntsman could be a threat...

I need to hear more from him.

[Sheepshank]

19. I think the sitting GOP think their guy is Mittens

but they would be wrong. The greatest challenger would have been Huntsman, if they had given him a chance. By 2016 the GOp will be ready to throw in the towel on the T.E.A group and their affinity for alienating too many...and move in the more all encompassing direction.

[michaelslomo]

21. Perry or Romney

I don't think any of the others have a shot at the nomination. (Palin might jump in, and she would have the next best chance of getting the nomintion, but I still don't think she would beat Perry or Romney.)

[Yo_Mama]

22. Only Obama is a significant threat to a 2nd Obama term

Seriously, he has to get serious and get a plan. Otherwise, he'll wrest defeat from the jaws of victory.

The US has never been so ready to accept an old-fashioned Democratic agenda, but somehow the big O just can't seem to get there.

[matmar]

25. Is Obama an "old fashioned" Democrat?

I don't think he is. One of his idols is Ronald Reagan.

The New Deal would never get out of the House or Senate today. I think it will take alot more economic suffering before anything close to the New Deal emerges....

[emulatorloo]

27. No he never said he "idolized" Ronald Reagan. That's DU selective quotation

He was clear in the quotes, he admired Reagan's ability to communicate and sell, he despised his policies.

[matmar]

29. I stand corrected.

Is Obama an "old fashioned" Democrat?

[emulatorloo]

30. His record in the Illinois and US Senate indicated to me he is a slightly left of center Democrat

We've had those around for a long time.

You aren't letting the Republicans off the hook, are you? Because they've blocked every old fashioned Democratic initiative.

[matmar]

32. Repubs off the hook? No.

I KNEW they were creeps.

Obama, on the other hand was recently described by Ronald Reagan's policy advisor - Bruce Bartlett - as a "moderate conservative"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x604343

[Yo_Mama]

34. You know, that's really not true

First, from January 2009 until January 2011 year we had a Democratic-controlled House, Senate and Presidency, and we were sitting pretty.

Oh, I'm not arguing with you that the GOP won't go along with it. But that doesn't have anything to do with electoral success, does it? My point is that Democratic failures are really due to a failure to be adequately Democratic.

Our country is facing hugely uncomfortable fiscal realities, but that is when the Democratic party ought to shine. It hasn't, and it hasn't because it has gotten away from its roots.

[matmar]

35. what you said....

and the fact that 60 votes in the Senate are needed to pass anything.

In other words a Democratic House that passes progressive legislation onto the Senate for ratification gets shot down because of the 60 vote rule to break a filibuster.

The Senate is where progressive legislation goes to die.

What are the chances of electing over 60 progressive Senators?

put your thumb and forefinger together and tell me how much air space you see....

[emulatorloo]

36. Our majority in the Senate was razor thin, and depended on Lieberman

and other dems who more often than not voted with the Republicans.

Damn good old fashioned Democratic legislation came out of the house, to be fucked up by the Repubs and Liebermann etc.

"But that doesn't have anything to do with electoral success, does it? My point is that Democratic failures are really due to a failure to be adequately Democratic. "

It is a bit of a which comes first, the chicken or the egg don't you think?

First let me say I don't think Democrats are blameless in any way shape or form. I think they are horrible at messaging, I think they have made good proposals, and I think they have accomplished some things. But they suck at messaging.

For example, every time I hear a Republican open his mouth, he says "the-failed-stimulus." Do Democrats every counter that meme? Sometimes.

Back to the chicken and egg thing

Republican strategy since 2009 = block all Democratic legislation, then blame Obama and Dems for doing nothing. They were quite upfront about this. This was their election strategy for 2010. And it worked.

They ran on jobs jobs jobs and got elected. (Have they done anything about jobs? No, they have continued to block all Democratic jobs bills and have focused on abortion abortion abortion and tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts).

They are doing the same thing now. It worked for them in 2010, they are hoping it will work in 2012.

[Safetykitten]

33. Oh so true.

[OHdem10]

28. Romney and Huntsman if he gets traction.