First Thoughts On Barbour’s Decision

I don’t think we can call Haley Barbour’s decision not to run for president as anything less than a shocker. He had given all the right signs- hired the necessary talent, visited the early primary states, even lost weight- but in the end he decided against what would be an uphill battle.

Here are some thoughts:

1) I thought all along that Barbour was going to run. I was shocked. And I think a lot of other people who followed Barbour and the 2012 race closely were too.

2) Barbour mentioned the time involved in this process, and said he couldn’t promise to be an “absolute fire in the belly” candidate required. And at 63 years of age, that is certainly a consideration. I think- and feel pretty confident- that Barbour wanted this but just couldn’t commit. I also think that Barbour understood the reality of what he was facing. He wouldn’t do anything where he couldn’t win. Barbour had plenty of obstacles and I believe they were insurmountable.

3) Early on, many people talked on Barbour’s lobbyist background as a drawback. And most recently, we have seen articles popping up about Mississippi’s traditional place as last in the good categories and first in the bad categories. But, I think the questionable comments to The Weekly Standard regarding the Citizens Council and the Civil Rights movement in general (misinterpreted or not) were the beginning of the end. A Republican can not have the questions that Barbour has on race and be a successful candidate.

4) I wanted to say that if Barbour couldn’t make a solid run for president, no one from Mississippi will ever be able to (because of the obstacles you face just being associated with Mississippi). I do think a serious Mississippian could become president, but they would likely have to be born after 1970 (and therefore missed the Civil Rights/ integration turmoil) to do so.

5) What will Barbour do next? My gut says he’s done with elected politics (meaning no to vice president talks, no to 2014 Senate talks). But, I was also thinking he’d run for president so we know my record on guessing Barbour’s next move. He may take some national role again, and I am sure he will be around the 2012 game, but for 2011 the best thing he can do is stay in Mississippi, raise money for the GOP, and help elect a Republican majority in the House. In that sense, Barbour’s decision not to run is a good one for state and legislative Republicans.