2012 GOP Candidate Pool Officially Unexciting

Posted on Apr 21, 2011

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An ever-authoritative New York Times/CBS News poll has discovered, shockingly, that Republican voters are not very tuned in to, or excited about, the potential lineup of contenders for the 2012 White House grand prize—and those they are aware of tend to be of the TV-friendly persuasion.  —KA

The New York Times:

Only those possible contenders who regularly appear on television — or have made bids before — are well known enough to elicit significant views from their fellow Republicans. And of that group, only one, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, is viewed favorably by more than half of the Republican electorate.

The poll would seem to reflect the late start to the Republican primary season, with many of the major likely candidates seeking to hoard their money and avoid making any missteps that they might have to live with later, when voters go to polls or caucus rooms.

While it may not be unusual for voters’ attention to be focused elsewhere at this stage of a campaign, the survey at the very least provides a reality check for a race that has received frenetic coverage at times on cable news and the Internet even though nearly 60 percent of Republicans cannot point to a single candidate about whom they are enthusiastic, according to the Times/CBS poll.

A host of potential Republican candidates have a lot of work ahead — and money to spend — to make themselves better known to their party faithful and other Americans.

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