Also giving a major address at CPAC was Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty’s most appealing qualification as a 2012 contender is the fact that he is finishing up his second term as governor of a liberal state. But right now, he just doesn’t come across as presidential. A little boring, Pawlenty simply does not yet stand out from the crowd of potential nominees in any outstanding way.
Then there is Congressman Ron Paul. It seems unlikely that Paul would make a third run for the presidency in 2012 at the age of 77, but he did surprisingly win the CPAC presidential straw poll.
Paul was received like a rock star at CPAC. Attendees burst into applause at various times throughout his speech, must notably when he stated that America should “end the Fed.” Who knew that so many people not only had a strong grasp of monetary policy, but also found monetary policy an exciting political issue?
Paul’s victory in the CPAC straw poll is likely not reflective of how he would do in the Republican primary. It is reflective, however, of the concern of many CPACers, and Americans as a whole, of the ballooning deficits and out of control spending in Washington.
Notably absent at CPAC were major addresses by former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Both are often mentioned as possible Republican presidential candidates in 2012. While both certainly have enthusiastic supporters, both also have rabid detractors that may make it difficult for them to secure the Republican nomination should they run.
The most exciting speaker at CPAC, however, was not a likely 2012 presidential contender. It was rising Republican star Marco Rubio. Rubio is running for Senate in Florida and despite facing off against Republican Governor Charlie Crist in the primary, he is very likely to emerge victorious. If he does, Rubio will immediately become the leading contender for the Republican vice-presidential slot in 2012 no matter who the presidential nominee is.
Born in the U.S. to refugees who fled Castro’s Cuba, Rubio’s political outlook reflects the immigrant’s view of American exceptionalism. Like Barack Obama sent a thrill up the leg of MSNBC’s Chris Matthews in 2008, Rubio has the potential to do the same to Sean Hannity in 2012.
Young, energetic, unabashedly conservative, and possessing an electrifying personal story, Rubio is the real deal. What’s more, his Hispanic heritage will allow him to more effectively reach out an important segment of the population in a national race. Finally, let us not forget he is from Florida, a very important battle ground state.
A Romney-Rubio or Gingrich-Rubio ticket could very well help make Dick Cheney’s CPAC prediction that President Obama will be a one-term president true. No doubt it’s early, but CPAC demonstrated that there is reason for Republicans to be excited about 2012.