(CNN) – In January of 2006, Illinois' junior senator definitively stated on NBC's Meet the Press that he was not interested in running for president.
On Sunday, three Republican governors and potential White House hopefuls were considerably more cautious in answering the same question Barack Obama did three years ago.
"What I'm saying is I'm running for re-election. I have no, no plans beyond that," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said on Meet the Press after facing repeated questions about his political future.
On Fox News Sunday, neither South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty would definitively rule out running.
"Is it a plan? Absolutely not. Is it a likelihood? Absolutely not. But I've learned that you never say guaranteed on tomorrow when you don't know tomorrow," Sanford said.
Pawlenty, meanwhile, said he is currently deciding whether to run for reelection in 2010.
"I'm first thinking about running for reelection for governor in the state of Minnesota, and that's my focus. And if I do, you know, people would expect you to serve out that term," he said.
To be sure, all three answers were significantly less definitive than the answer then-Senator Obama gave in 2006.
"I will serve out my full six-year term," he said then. "My thinking has not changed."
From CNN Politics
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Anybody, but Obama, the savior and his sheeple agreeing with everything he says. They are so ignorant they can't think for themselves.
Wow, an exorcist (jindal) running for president, how crazy can we get?
Those Republicans must be getting pretty desperate if these three are the best they can come up with besides Palin. What a joke!
seattle sue, i like that . thay are really three blind mice. especially jindal. he reminds me of ALF. LOL
Jindal is muslim
2 out of the 3 who say they may run for President, are also the ones who say they will turn down part of the stimulus (but not all of it).
Coincidence?
Before running anywhere, republicans must figure out how to become non-extremists, and at the same time not loose their nutty 'base'. Impossible task. I think they might split on moderate republicans and on religious extremists. But there seem not so many moderates among them.
Seattle Sue
I agree 100%
Think somebody should check the legimacy of Jindals birth cerificate, look in Sanfords closet for a few tailored made white robes and Pawlentys mental stability.
wel i live in minnesota and can tell you pawlenty is bad very bad..he would destroy america like he did minnesota.
So it is not a wonder that they oppose any Obama plan?
The godfather has spoken......for those who dont know it Rush..........
This partisan politics is pathetic and sad none of these partisan players should get relected and constituents should not forget
We have a serious serious situation here that affects regular people the politicians and elite will survive middle americans may not......
........so stop the game playing and lets get the country moving.......
So in the mean time.....we have to listen to all their bad ideas and the whining.
They all are losers. We will beat them easy
It's all going to depend on two things, as it always does:
1.) Who has the most money, and
2.) Who has the most charisma.
You need money to spread your message (or propaganda in the modern Democrat's case) and you need charisma to get the average American idiot to vote for you. Ideology is fairly irrelevant, I mean the nation did elect a Socialist president if that isn't proof enough.
Jindel, Pawlenty and Sanford are the three stooges of our times. These opportunists will never be president because they do not speak to or for the people. They are younger Republican cheerleaders who spew hatred and the same old trickle down theory of 20- 30 years ago. Americans need more.
Of the three Sanford is the most dangerous. He's a George W. Bush clone who grew up wealthy and has no clue of real suffering. Kick this psycho to the curb.
We just barely got one president elected and you yahoos are already trying to build the drama and stories for the next. Forget "pop journalism," this is "SOAP journalism."
So Obama lied and these guys are all telling the truth...
3 top notch candidates. They're knocking on the door.
not sure many die-hard Republicans would vote for Jindal, for many of same reasons they refused to vote for Obama. His family is Hindu (converted to Catholic), he's not even bi-racial, full blood Eastern Indian, therefore not "American" enough, his real name isn't even Bobby. Hmmmm...makes one wonder if Republicans would decide to ignore all those "race" and "religion" issues since he is on "their side".
I am being facetious of course, but trying to make a point.
It is so sad that Obama has been president for a month or so and already the Repugs are thinking about the next election. It goes to show they don't give a crap about America. Capitalism always shows her true colors in this country! All for me and All for me!!! and F*&^ everybody who isn't
If a 1st generation Nigerian American/Caucasian can become president I don't doubt that Jindal could one day be living in the White House.
I vote for splitting up the country and see which fairs better. The liberals can take all of their bailouts and debt and go smoke it.
Jindal run for President? He's the new governer of Louisiana and hasn't made any improvement there. He needs to do well by LA citizens before thinking about White House.
l am with you Charlie in Maine, "BRING IT ON"
HA, what a laugh, now that is funny
Can you believe the Gov. of Louisiana of all places is turning down money? That state probably could use all $786 billion! Tell you what – whatever you don't want, the states who intend to grow jobs in their states should divide it up. Let those stupid states deal with their own mess.