3
MIKE HUCKABEE
Former Arkansas Governor 4
As an endorser, Huckabee brings several attributes his predecessors on this list lack: A weekly show on Fox News and a string of infl uential allies and supporters along the GOP primary trail after his run in 2008. Huckabee won primary races in Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee, among others. Another advantage the former Baptist minister brings to the table: His strong standing with social conservatives. Unless a Rick Warren or James Dobson weighs in this cycle, Huckabee might be as close as Christian conservatives come to the heyday when a Jerry Falwell endorsement could tilt the political playing fi eld.
5 S DICK ARMEY Former Majority Leader, FreedomWorks Chairman
It is often said the tea party movement has no spokesman, and it’s true. But if an election for that job were held tomorrow, it’s a safe bet Armey, the former House majority leader from the Contract With America years, would win in a landslide.
Armey is the chairman of
FreedomWorks, which has created the “Super PAC” to infl uence the outcome in 2012. Newsmax asked FreedomWorks’ president, Matt
Kibbe, if the organization will make a primary endorsement. “If we identify a candidate that both shares our commitment to the values of spending restraint and limited government, and demonstrates the political and organizational skills to lead and win, FreedomWorks will endorse,” he replied. “We have not identifi ed that man or woman yet, but we are shopping.” Sources say Kibbe, Armey, and
the FreedomWorks PAC will likely endorse the same candidate. Before endorsing, Armey probably would have to wait until a clear-cut conservative favorite emerged with a genuine chance of winning the nomination. Otherwise, anointing a Ron Paul over a Michele Bachmann might trigger internecine war among the already fractious tea parties. Look for Armey to have an infl uential voice in 2012.
Say what you will about The Donald, the man has a keen reputation for picking winners. How seriously would the GOP base take a Trump endorsement? That’s hard to predict. But in a cycle where every candidate will boast they have the credentials needed to turn around a disheartening economy, Trump’s cachet could bring instant credibility.
DONALD TRUMP Business Mogul p
ump endorsement? That s where every candidate will boast they entials needed to turn around a economy credibility
rump’s cachet could
There’s no love lost between the Trump and Romney camps. When fl irting with making a run himself, Trump dismissively referredTrump dismissively referred to the former Massachusetts Gov Romney as “a small business guy,” and predicted he wouldn’t “resonate” enough with voters to win the nomination..
o love lost between the T ps. When fl
r Massachusetts Gov. Mitt “a small business guy
ed he wouldn’t “resonate” h voters to win the
A high-profi le Trump endorsement, following a strong showing in Iowa, could greatly complicate Romney’s plans of using New Hampshire as his Northeast fi
profi
strong showing in Iowa, tly complicate Romney’s sing New Hampshire as
Donald Trump, anyone? Oh, and another thing: He’s one kingmaker who can afford to present his favorite candidate not only with an endorsement, but also with an autograph on a big, fat campaign-donation check.
east fi rewall — running mate ump, anyone? Oh, and another s one kingmaker who can
present his favorite candidate with an endorsement, but an autograph on a big, fat n-donation check.
6 and,
Haleyl
South Carolina Governor , the fi rst woman
NIKKI HALEY
governor in the nation, has a unique opportunity to infl uence the GOP’s choice in 2012. Polls show her
governor of South Carolina and, at 39, the youngest governor in the nation, has
39
in 2012. Polls show her popularity has slid a bit in the Palmetto State: She has about 42 percent job approval. But there are a lot of newly minted GOP governors who would love to have that number
the Palmetto State: She has about 42 percent job approval. But there are a lot of newly minted GOP governors who would love to have that number.
Haley is ambitious, and there’s little doubt she has national aspirations. She also has been touted as a leading possible vice presidential candidate. In mid-July she attracted the media spotlight by co-authoring a Washington Post Op-Ed with Texas Gov. Rick Perry voicing support for the “cut, cap, and balance” approach to raising the debt ceiling.
Haley is ambitious, and there’s little doubt she has national aspirations. She also has been touted as a leading possible vice presidential candidate. In mid-July she attracted the media spotlight by co-authoring a
t
During her own campaign for governor, Haley received big endorsements from both Romney and Palin. When asked on ABC’s This Week if she felt beholden to either, she replied, “When the right time comes, I will endorse. But there is no
During her own campaign for governor, Haley received big endorsements from both Romney and Palin. When asked on ABC’s This Week
“When the right time comes, I will endorse. But there is no one that I feel like I owe at this time.”
SEPTEMBER 2011 SEPTEMBER 2011 / NEWSM NEWSMAX 25
AP IMAGES / MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAGES FOR INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116
