How Big Is the GOP Presidential Field? Bob Ehrlich Is Preparing to Run

[brooklynite]

National Journal:

CONCORD, N.H.—He's gotten very little attention since losing the governor's race in Maryland five years ago, but former Gov. Bob Ehrlich is nonetheless exploring a presidential campaign.

Ehrlich plans to make his fourth visit to New Hampshire on Feb. 24, after meeting last week with more than 100 top donors in New York to discuss financing a potential campaign. At those meetings, he discussed setting up a leadership PAC, as a bunch of other probable candidates have done in recent weeks.

"Obviously this summer we have to figure out what the situation is. Are people responding to my message? Are they lining up to hear more of what I say after I speak? Clearly there's been a little bit of a spark in my public speeches," Ehrlich said. "Can that spark cause more sparks? Are there more groups that want to hear me?"

If Ehrlich does decide to run, he'd be considered a huge long shot in what's shaping up to be a very deep field of candidates for the GOP nomination. Asked how he could compete against possible rivals with major name recognition such as Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Chris Christie, Ehrlich said, "That's not where we are right now. That's not where my mind is right now. That doesn't reflect my present status."

Gee, he could knock George Pataki right out of the running.

[femmocrat]

1. Are these long-shots making money from a potential run?

I don't know the intricacies of campaign finance laws, but seems like since Citizens United, all the wannabes are coming out of the woodwork. Who even remembers Ehrlich! Or Pataki, as far as that goes.

[11 Bravo]

2. Bobby Haircut! Forgotten, but apparently not gone.

[madinmaryland]

5. Heh. Bobby Haircut and Michael "I don't hate puppies" Steele.

[2naSalit]

3. Last night

Chris Hayes had an interesting show...

?itok=LErhW2UH

http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/2016-all-in-fantasy-candidate-draft-390891587977

[n2doc]

4. The clown car has infinite capacity n/t

[Johnyawl]

6. Some of these has-beens and wannabes are running for cabinet positions...

...they know they have no chance at the nomination, or even the VP spot. But in the unlikely event that Jeb can win, a little name recognition might help their cause in the scramble for the cabinet positions.

And a couple of years in a cabinet position would guarantee a healthy salary when they depart government service and head over to K Street.

I wish I'd been smart enough to recognize the way the system worked in 1977. lol

[LibertyLover]

7. Ehrlich doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hades

at the nomination for president, but I'd wager that he's hoping to be on the very, very, very short list for VP.