“Texas Gov. Rick Perry once famously described the 2012 Republican presidential field as the “weakest . . . in history.” Republicans expect better things in 2016, but today there are as many question marks as exclamation points behind the names of their prospective candidates.
Perry’s assessment was widely shared. The cast of characters in 2012 included implausible contenders such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and businessman Herman Cain as well as some established politicians, such as former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), who had little chance of being elected president. Is it any wonder former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the nomination?
During the 2012 campaign, many Republicans were already looking with favor at a group of newly elected governors and senators — impressive but judged not quite ready for the national stage. The courtship of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie by a group of wealthy GOP fundraisers in summer 2011 was one obvious sign of the lack of confidence in the presidential field at the time.”* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.
*Read more here from Dan Balz / WashingtonPost:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/questions-for-the-gops-2016-field-of-candidates/2014/06/21/e8d11274-f949-11e3-a606-946fd632f9f1_story.html