Kowabunga

Over on the Weekly Standard website, the latest column from Talk Radio host extraordinaire, Hugh Hewitt, is well worth a read and comment. He talks about how the campaign for the GOP nomination has already begun, and a front runner is already in position. This will be an election where there isn't an incumbent or vice-president in the race for the first time since 1952. I hadn't noticed this, however, he is quite right on that score.

The main thrust of his column comes from a talk he gave at a recent NFRW meeting in Riverside County, CA. There he conducted what he is calling the first straw poll of 2008, and the result was interesting. Not sure if it is surprising.

I announced the first straw poll of 2008. By a show of hands, I gave the ladies--and a handful of men who were their guests--four choices: Senator John McCain, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Senator Bill Frist, and "other." The results astonished me.

Okay, I admit that Condoleezza Rice wasn't on the list, except categorized as "other," however, it is Hugh's poll. I can always run my own on my website, right?

Now, let's look at the recent activities, at least as far as I am aware, of the three he named: Senator McCain, although out campaigning for the Pres during 2004, seemed to be more at odds with W, not to mention the frequent "hints" that he was on Kerry's short list for the V.P. slot. This last, no doubt, will be brought up again in 2008, IF he decides to run again. I don't think he will. Senator Frist, darn good man, and you would think he is a strong candidate. Rudy Giuliani, campaigned heavily for Bush in 2004. I even saw him cruise thru the Minnesota Campaign HQ just before the election (and me without a camera!), with Norm Coleman, and a day before the President made his last Minnesota campaign stop.

I must admit, I wasn't active in the campaign until the last couple of weeks, but I don't recall hearing of any campaign visits in Minnesota by McCain or Frist. Doesn't mean they didn't show up here, and easy to miss. However, Giuliani cruising thru HQ and giving the volunteers a morale boost, that makes me think he is planning on running. No surprise, as that has been the scuttlebutt for months now, that Giuliani would run in 2008.

2008 is still a long ways off, and a lot can happen between now and the primaries, however, it is interesting to look at how things are shapping up this early.

The results from Hewitt's informal straw poll? Go read his column! I believe he is onto something here. And we may not have to wait until 2008 to find out if he is right.