Washington (CNN) - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is increasingly likely to embark on a campaign for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, a source close to the Republican told CNN Friday.
“We have definitely shifted gears, there is no question about that,” the source said. “He's running until he says he's not.”
That Barbour is seriously thinking about a White House bid is hardly a surprise. He built up his profile substantially during the 2010 election cycle as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and recently spent time in the early primary state of South Carolina meeting with GOP donors and activists.
Barbour has a national network of support dating to the 1970s and 80s, when he worked as a political strategist and served in the Reagan White House. He went on to start a successful Washington-based lobbying firm and, later, served as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
But people close to Barbour are now operating on the assumption that he will run.
The governor has started to call in some of the chits he collected during his long political career, soliciting support from donors and political consultants in several early nominating states.
“He is doing the things you have to do” to gear up for a presidential bid, said the source.
Barbour recently made a speaking appearance before Republican activists in Florida, an important state for any potential presidential candidate, and he is planning forays into other key states in the coming weeks.
And in an effort to bone up on his foreign policy chops, Barbour is traveling to Israel this weekend to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials. Next week, he will address the Conservative Political Action Conference along with several other potential 2012 contenders.
In describing the governor’s reasons for thinking seriously about a presidential bid, the adviser pointed to Barbour’s work trimming the Mississippi budget and his efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
“Bold leadership is required to get us off the path we are on in this country,” the source said. “It’s going to take somebody who is willing to make some hard decisions, to provide some authentic leadership.”
From CNN Politics
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The guy couldn't "run" 50 feet without having a heart attack. He couldn't physically withstand the rigors of campaigning, much less the stress of leading a country. Enough with the pasty dough boys!
I don't care what this old fool does.
RE: Palin Trademark, since the comments were closed I just want to say that this story has caused me to leave CNN Ticker.
One too many stories about this twit, and I don't care what she does, I just don't want to see nor hear about her anymore.
So, Ticker, post this, don't post this, I don't care about that either. Good bye.
And just when is the last time we had a president that looks like a freakin' hog??? Get real Haley!
“He's running until he says he's not.” Great, then please ask the man to lose weight. He’s a senior, and he’s about one sausage and biscuits breakfast away from having a heart attack or stroke. This doesn’t instill much confidence in his ability to make it to the 4-year finish line.
The sad thing about this good-ol-boy is that we'd go broke providing interpreters if this mush mouth got into any national office. The only people who can understand his jibberish are the toothless wonders of the south.
Yep, that is just what we need, the governor of the state consistently ranked 50th in nearly every category runnin' the country!
Do we realy need a old heavy white guy ( with bad memory of segregation)from a poor state to be president?
Barbour can run but he won't win. Right now the only person that Is thinking of running I would vote for Is Mitch Daniels.
Come on people, let's get real, this guy Barbour looks like a loser, talks like a loser and walks like a loser. Let him stay in Mississippi where he belongs.
The ONE thing this Country Does NOT Need,is a Republican President anytime soon! Good Lord! I Hope Americans are smarter than THAT.but I SURE wonder sometines.
Might as well start drafting his concession speech.
Central Casting could not have picked a more backward oaf to play the part of a redneck hillbilly!
Get rid of the southern drawl first! No northerner is going to vote for that kind of talk!
Just like Newt, the only vote that Boss Hawg will capture is the ignorant, southern, white male vote. Happy Nascar!
It is going to require some very good politicking to convince me that being the Governor of Mississippi is a qualification for presidency. The state is near the bottom of most demographics.
All this hick is gonna do is waste the (R)'s and (T)'s time, money and energy to the benefit of the (D)'s. Why? That good ole boy is just drippin' to much Dixie sauce for 21st century America to take serioulsy that's why. Go for it Haley – - – Really stink up and divide the conservatives into yet another split-off faction...
Take the Money and Run Barbour !
One thing he can not run on is his record. How can he when the state of Mississippi is at the bottom in most categories, educational, health care, etc. I guess he atleast finished his term and has been very critical of the current administration.
Unelectable.
He may be running until he says he's not but that doesn't mean squat. He's completely, 100%, NEVER going to be the POTUS,
He's big a house. He needs to do some running somewhere. I hope that he doesn't plan to include a ban on fastfood or push Americans to stay fit in his agenda. That might be a hard sell.
Just what we need – another loudmouth Republican racist trying to take away the rights of the American People.
Its amazing that people like this is even being considered.
This guy runs a state thats last or near last in every socio-economic category. Education, wages, unemployment, porverty level, health care, crime, etc. But he is a brash southern redneck that will appeal to their uninformed, illiterate base and may do well within the party.
Barbour who calls himself a conservative this guy is a joke to say the lease here is a guy who is the governor of a state that has the highest amount of people on food stamps then any other state in the country and he talks about government spending in cutting the same programs that the people in his state depends on that is the reason why people in the south are stupid they like to cut there nose off despite there face if this idiot couldn't create jobs for the people of mississippi what makes you think he would create jobs if he were president
The only running this guy has to do is to run to lose some weight. He is almost as disgusting looking as limberger. Never mind he is too southern and racist!