Pataki in 2012?
Conservative columnist Mike Murphy is writing in Time magazine that former New York Governor — and seasonal North Country resident — George Pataki could be a late-blooming factor in the 2012 presidential race.
Pataki is airing a new ad on a Granite State TV station, WMUR. The ad comes from a Pataki-sponsored group called No American Debt and is perfectly attuned to New Hampshire’s flinty primary electorate.
So while others are playing cat and mouse with reporters, inspecting farms in Iowa with more hogs than people and pleading with legions of self-appointed Tea Party generalissimos, Pataki is running a very effective spot in New Hampshire.
Murphy predicts that Pataki will try to “steal” the New Hampshire primary. He calls the effort a “long shot” but suggests that it could “instantly catapult [Pataki] to the very top of the GOP’s VP list.”
“This old campaign dog still knows how to find the bone,” Murphy concludes.
So what do you think? Is Pataki in the hunt?
Tags: politics
No.
This has been another edition of simple answer to stupid questions.
Longer version: Does anyone actually think that a dark horse moderate republican actually stands a chance? You have your pick of the milquetoast litter on this one: Huntsman, Romney, Pawlenty…what does Pataki offer that they don’t have? Even lower name recognition?
Well, everyone else in the race (officially or otherwise) has baggage and is less than “popular”. A dark horse might be the answer to their dilemma. The Republicans could do worse (and probably will).
He could, in theory, put NY in play, but does he seriously think he can carry NY? And can a candidate plausibly ask for his party’s nomination if he knows he can’t carry his own state? (Essex County, yes.) Murphy seems to think he’s after the VP slot.
He’s got to be running for VP.
Isn’t he the guy that about doubled the state budget during his term in office? Yeah, I think I remember that guy.
There’s a video criticizing Jon Huntsman for being a rino:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV8HFHkX3PA.
Imagine the field day they’ld have with Pataki.
Knuckle,
Right that is why he is the perfect Republican!
For the life of me I don’t understand the appeal of George Pataki for any elected office ever again. Just look at the corruption not only within his own administrations, but within the State Legislature during his tenure and ask yourself what did this guy really accomplish in his four terms? He, Silver, and Joe ran the state like their own little fiefdoms. Running up debt like it was a board game, creating more authorities without oversight than perhaps during anytime in state history, and neglecting for his entire tenure the rampant dysfunction New York state government is most known for. It certainly isn’t all his fault, but much of what is wrong with state gov’t today can be laid at the feet of George Pataki.