Barbour: I Can't "Just Say Flatly No" To Presidential Run

Governor Haley Barbour said on Sunday that he could not "just say flatly no" about a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. But he stressed that both he and his wife would be greatly "surprised" if he ultimately chose to throw his hat in the ring.

Speaking to CBS's "Face the Nation," the Mississippi Republican left just enough of a window open on the presidential front to fuel speculation that he might mount a bid.

"I don't have any plan to. I don't have any intention to," he told Bob Schieffer. "I'm not going to give any thought to running for anything until after the 2010 election. I'd be very surprised if I ended up running for president, but I can't just say flatly no. But I would be very surprised. My wife would be even more surprised."

Barbour, who has taken over the chair of the Republican Governor's Association after Gov. Mark Sanford's resignation from that post, has been increasingly discussed as a GOP hopeful for 2012. And with other potential nominees suffering either from political or ethical miscues, his name has been bandied about even more in recent weeks.

The Mississippi Republican's resume of fiscal and social conservatism would seem naturally appealing to the GOP base. That said, Democrats who are already looking towards the next presidential election say they would love a Barbour candidacy. Not only is he another white, aging politician from the South, but he's a long-time Republican hand with connections to some of the GOP's most nefarious figures, including Jack Abramoff and George W. Bush.

On NBC's "Meet the Press," another potential GOP candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, dismissed questions about mounting another run at the White House in 2012. "That is way behind my horizon at this point, thinking about 2012," he said.

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Comments

[nataliesmith]

WOW! I used to be a liberal. I regurgitated talking points about the war in Iraq, Republican hipocrisy, and anything else that the leading Democrats had to say. But it was all based on the popular liberal myth that conservatives are judgmental, hateful people who never even attempt to hear another point of view. But crap like the posts here opened my eyes. It's this kind of blatant liberal bigotry that pushed me to the center. No discussion about his policies or what he's accomplished. Not even criticisms of things he's done. Just a bunch of smack about how he's an overweight, white southerner. Way to judge a book by its cover! Sad.

[scottymac11]

Don't be sad. It's just that he said. I can't "just say flatly no". It appears the only "flat" thing he might be sure about is his seat cushion.

[Jenjohnson]

I highly doubt if you were ever a liberal. Judging from your post and how you are coming across.

You are welcome to remain in the center right.. blah blah blah. and quoting you, an overweight white southerner is just what he is. I couldn't have described it better.

[wayicit]

That's exactly what I thought. Maybe she's a liberal republican, if there's such a thing.

[Winthorpe]

Yawwwwwwwn. Did you say something, Natalie?

[RRG64]

lol

liberal bigotry is an oxymoron.

get a grip.

haley stokes for President 2012.

[jubei]

I agree wit you rrg64 Pat Buchanan,Lou Dobbs and Haley for president for 2012!!

[nataliesmith]

What magical land do you live in where you can just say something and expect that to make it fact? HP is full of posts from people who claim to be open-mided liberals who continually attack people based on their appearance, where their from or what people they knew did. How is that not bigotry? I've seen one post that actually goes into (barely) his politics. The rest is just vile mud-slinging. So, yes, these posts are from a bunch of liberal bigots. Whether or not they hate all southerners, overweight people, and whites, I don't know. But I fail to see how combining those traits means it's fair to attack him. Could you please explain it?

[wayicit]

Tell us then, do you agree with his alignment with Bush and the Iraq war. Or maybe him being a tobacco lobbyist. He lobbied against anti-smoking laws in Mississippi and won. Or him refusing
to except the Federal Stimulus Package for the people of his state, despite of their high unemployment rate.

Please, opened our eyes to his noted accomplishments.

If he's nominated you can vote for him.

[dollbaby]

Well those issues could become problematic. Other then that he soulds like the perfect chosen one.

[RRG64]

say yes. just say yes. 18%ers will seem themselves @ 9% lmao, say yes.

Barbour/Palin 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3eTSbC3neA

[wayicit]

How desperate in their attempt to find a leader for the GOP, to even consider Haley Barbour.
Not to mention he might consider with his statement that "he could not just say flatly no".

Heartland Repub are probably saying " Yes I Believe".

One might only hope that he gets nominated.

[liminy]

omigosh, what planet am I on??!

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Barber has too much to hide--he won't run.

[wayicit]

Are you saying that maybe he's overweight.

[mantri]

I'm going to order my Barbour '12 bumper sticker this week!

[jubei]

Iam going to order my PAT BUCHANAN 2012 bumper sticker.

[ThermoChemist]

I am going to order my "Sarah Palin for Mensa" bumper sticker..!

[Icantbelieveher]

Please run Mr. Hayley K K K, I mean C C C! It will help the democrats get 99% of the minority vote!

[wayicit]

Tell me where that 1% is.

[jcko]

Michael's relatives.

[SgtLucifer]

Sarah Palin / Michelle Bachmann 2012 (all female Republican ticket)
- - - the economy has been tough on comedians thus far.

[oscartucker]

Barbour may not run, but he can sure dance! He danced around the questions on "Face the Nation". There were times that Bob Schifer should have done follow ups to get an answer.

[BannedInBoston]

Barbour was King of the Elephants and lived in a town called Celesteville....

[scottymac11]

Give him a nose as long as republican't hypocrisy and a tale as short as their productivity and he could be your elephant king for sure.

[RedGinger]

Thanks for the childhood memory....

[henrypapillon]

Incestville?

[Gladys1963]

I loved Babar--don't insult him and the residents of Celesteville!

[BannedInBoston]

Does he have a wife named Celeste? Then we could have King Barbour and Queen Celeste....

[HWBII]

Oh, please please please let it be Haley Barbour!

[Colmore]

Well. kiss ma grits. He looks a little like Flo the waitress.

[BannedInBoston]

Heh. Barbour in drag.

[notyouraveragebear]

Looks like a cross between Lou Dobbs and Jerry Falwell.

[oscartucker]

Great observation!

[iceage7]

And rush limbaugh

[weatherwaxx]

This man doesn't look like he could run after an ice-cream truck.

[alabaman]

He looks like he's spent most of his life eating the stuff.

[Adartist777]

He's kinda like a southern W.C. Fields. Think about it.

[Colmore]

Eeeww. Look at those chins, and the little sausage fingers. "Coy" is not a word that fits with this picture.