GOP 2012: Race Unfocused

26 April 2011 |permalink | email article

The field of potential Republican presidential candidates has undergone its first major shakeup. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a fundraising dynamo, abruptly dropped out of the race. A major force in the party he apparently lacked the fire in the belly, no doubt influenced by waves of negative publicity as a lobbyist and insensitive racial remarks.

Barbour’s exit could open the way for Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels who appears weak on the surface and until now has been wary of running while facing many of the challenges which the Mississippi governor encountered. Meanwhile, Texas libertarian congressman Ron Paul announces an exploratory committee today in Iowa. What’s significant if he jumps in is that he’ll have a major claim to tea party activists, especially if no other fresh face emerges to excite grassroots conservatives. Paul shattered online funding records in his 2008 presidential campaign and a repeat strategy is certain should he run.

What they said

Eli Broad, the Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist, was profiled on CBS’ ”60 Minutes” Sunday in a largely positive way but did little to shy away from his reputation for being difficult and demanding. He said his foundation didn’t operate as a charity but rather as “venture philanthropy” – meaning that he expects results from an organization to which he gives. He was praised by fellow billionaire Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, and artist Jeff Koons, whose works of art rest in his vast collection. L.A. Times art critic Christopher Knight quipped he was sometimes referred to as Eli “Strings Attached” Broad. Famed L.A. architect Frank Gehry offered a darker view of Broad, noting their clash over construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and called him a ”control freak.” Broad described himself as a “perfectionist” who wanted to be respected, not necessarily loved.

146