(CNN) – Prominent New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg says that Sarah Palin just might have a clearer path to the Republican presidential nomination next year than commonly understood – an event he warns would lead to President Obama's clear reelection.
Gregg, the former senator and governor of the Granite State, says the muddled GOP presidential field means it's more likely than ever there won't be a clear consensus candidate before the party's nominating convention in August of 2012. If that happens, says Gregg, Palin and her army of supporters might have the upper hand when it comes to settling on a presidential candidate.
"A candidate who runs second or third in a great many primaries could go into the convention with a sizable block of delegates," writes Gregg in an Op-Ed in The Hill newspaper Monday. "Who would this favor? Does Sarah Palin come to mind? Although she is not viewed by most as strong enough to win, she is viewed by many as a person worth voting for to make a statement."
While it's unlikely Palin (should she run) would win that many primary contests, placing second or third might be enough - especially this time around when delegates will be awarded a proportionate basis instead of the winner-take-all system that has previously been the rule in Republican primaries.
"Finishing second and third isn't really a big deal – until you get enough delegates to be the nominee," writes Gregg. "And picking a nominee who it seems would be easily defeated by President Obama might not be the best statement."
In 2008, Gregg was a supporter of Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who is all-but-certain to run again.
From CNN Politics
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Joe Scarborough said Palin ensures an Obama victory in 2012 before this article.
'common thinking – Sarah Palin is a fantastic politician...just like she was a great governer. Stupid americans are not ready for honesty and truth'
Thanks for that, I was having a blah day but that chuckle really cheered me up.
'he doesn't have guts...no forward thinking.'
Oh and what do your great 'forward thinking' skills say should be the action because I can pretty much guarantee you know jack.
If you want the Democrats to continue to hold power...just vote Palin in... I'm sure Obama will be very happy!
What path is that? She is wandering all over and she quits when the going gets tough?
What bothers me the most is Nov. 2010 we voted in tea party folks who have no interest in helping the middle class or poor. We have a Republican party who only cares about big business and the upper 2% and voted them in. The 17 percent of independents that voted for President Obama voted for tea party and repubs. In 2010. What were you thinking......you voted against your own interests.......we are a very unintelligent country. They are cutting education to shreds in a country that is 20th in math and science. We are dumbing down our country. JUST listen to Bachman and Palin!!!! Wake up folks!!!!!
For years I've just wanted Sarah Palin to go way because she's a joke. Now I am all too happy to see her run for president. Go ahead brilliant Tea Partiers bite of your nose to spite your face!!!
Run Palin RUN!
Blah blah blah!!!!! Doesn't matter we need to get right! Jesus is coming life as we know it is over!!!!!!!! Doesn't matter who runs this country!
Sara palin is a joke and a quitter if she were to ever become president I would seriously consider moving out of this country, I live in Alaska and she is not that popular up here I pray to god she just goes away, her and her whole family are attention whores, in a nut shell she would be worse then Obama.
McCain unkleashed this Palin virus upon the American public.
Her hands aren't big enough to hold all the things she doesn't know.
Palin! she doesn't desrve to run or be president the way she talk/sound doesn't sound or seem professional. She can be anything she want and I won't hold that against her but, for president , hell no, she don't sound professional like most lady I hear on the news.
I say all the Democrats cross lines, take a Replican ballot (like they did last primary) and vote for Palin!
I hope she wins...
@commonthinking
. Are you for real? If anyone is a clsn is this stupid woman ehi is only good for one thing . . . The worlds oldest profession and it's all about her. She doesnt even care about her famiky or her kids!
What a role model this country will have if SHE becomes the president!!
Just the expression on Palins face in this picture says it all! She's looking to catch the Short Bus!
Here they go trying to head Snooki Palin off at the pass. It is not very smart to admit that they can't stop her in the process.
She's going to run for sure now.They just DARED her to run in her junior high school mind. It's all downhill from here wingnuts.
GOBP heads exploding all over the place. David Koch will call for another meeting soon.
I'm conservative. I wish this woman would go away. She's ill-prepared and uninformed in most instances. There are so many strong potential GOP candidates. This one takes the laughing-stock cake – she is the topper.
ok so Obama will never win the 2012 election because of his incompetence to do anything he says.... Our economy still sucks..... OUr healthcare should not be reformed it is fine how it is... Fact: U.S.A has the best healthcare in the world....
Palin will easily get GOP nomination and possibly President because people are tired of Obama's lies.......... Even if people dont like her America would rather have her than Barack any day.......
Look, no offense to Republican folks out there, but the honest truth isn't that Palin would obviously fail to win against Obama... the truth is, there is no such thing as a republican leader right now... I'm completely in the middle... you know who i vote for? The person i think has the best chance to make a difference while they are in office... Republicans are viewed (and probably rightfully so) as polarized... they do not bend on anything... politics are ABOUT compromising... because nobody wants EXACTLY what repubs want and nobody wants EXACTLY what Dems want... We need folks that are willing to say... okay i won't vote for what you have here... but lets find a middle road on this and make something happen... not folks that just throw the whole damn thing out the window and sit like a child holding their breath til they get what they want... that's what we've seen lately... Dems on the other side have enjoyed a lot of success lately... especially having 2 years of a Dem congress and a Dem president... but they're overconfident and have used the "we don't need your consent anymore" line way too much... nobody is blameless... but i for one am sick of both arguments... I want leaders that will sit down... work on a problem... and come up with a plan to solve the issue... not just fight for 6 months and put out legislation that NOBODY likes because neither side would work together..... that's all we see anymore and that's why i can't identify with either party... because they're both rediculous.... but to the point of presidential candidates.... None of those who have announced from the Republicans or are likely going to run... have shown the willingness to compromise that i would like to see... they're a VERY embattled party... they're very bitter sounding... and they really don't look like what i want in office... and i honestly don't see any of them defeating Obama at this point.
I think that Sarah Palin should at the top of the list as our "our on the ground ambassador to Libya" ..... maybe even be Gadhafi's personal assistant. She coud teach him how to "cut and run".
Who do you think her vice presidential choice would be? Can you imagine if its Bachmann? Gasp!
Mike Brooks, you did not campaign for President and you never will, if you say Pat Buchannon and Joe Scarborough is the best candidates you are a GOP and always have been. " I would vote for a turnip to get rid of him" go and vote for your turnip. I hope when your turnip get thought with your part of America you will wish you was dead.
@Mike Brooks – there is no way you campaigned for President Obama!