Article published November 18, 2009
Looking at 2012
IT'S NEVER too early for potential candidates to visit an important primary state, especially if you're a member of the political party on the outs. That was proven in recent days when three - count them, three - Republicans who may have 2012 aspirations on the White House either visited Iowa or announced their intention to stop by the Hawkeye State soon.
On Nov. 7, Minnesota Gov. Jim Pawlenty was keynote speaker at the state GOP's "Leadership for Iowa" dinner in Des Moines. A day later, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an alum of the 2008 race as well as a leading early candidate to carry the party colors in 2012, was in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Des Moines signing copies of his new book, A Simple Christmas.
The third member of the triumverate, former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has a book that came out on Tuesday. She'll be in Sioux City on Dec. 6 hawking copies of Going Rogue: An American Life, which doesn't sound as warm and fuzzy as Mr. Huckabee's volume but may be more on point.
Three national Republicans in state less than a year into President Obama's term and the 2012 general election not even a smudge on the horizon yet. Mr. Huckabee has been out of office for two years and Ms. Palin quit her job, so they have time to run for offices that won't be available for more than three years. But doesn't Governor Pawlenty have a state to run?
There's no doubt that these three are preparing the ground and planting seeds in Iowa, hoping to harvest votes in the distant future. There's also no doubt that most Americans aren't ready for perpetual campaigning.
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