Two days ago we noted that NH Gov. Sununu is pondering a run for the GOP presidential nomination and gave his candidacy essentially zero chances of success. Today we pass another ‘milestone’ in the primary process.
Former MD Gov. Larry Hogan has been talked about as someone who could attract Democrat votes as he managed to be twice elected Republican governor in bright blue Maryland. Today he announced on CBS’ Face the Nation that he will not be a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.
Hogan has shown a degree of realistic self-appraisal that is not so very common in governors. Him getting elected in MD was akin to Mitt Romney being elected a Republican governor in bright blue Massachusetts, a relatively sure sign both were seriously out of step with the GOP mainstream. Gov. Sununu suffers this same problem, although NH is a bit more purple.
It occurs to me northeastern Republicans need an asterisk after their political affiliation, much as southern Democrats once needed it. Neither the southern Democrats of yore or today’s northeastern Republicans were or are mainstream in their parties.
So be it, these things happen in a large, diverse country. We ignore the ambiguities, and go forward.
Every now and then an out-of-step pol has an epiphany and changes party. Some decades ago the southern Democrats did so en masse and are now Republicans. Joe Manchin might be next.
