Is it time yet?

We're still not even 18 months from the 2012 general election, but there are an increasing amount of names being bantered about from the conservative side. Should we begin discussing the very serious prospect of who is going to make that "short list"?

This morning, Mike Huckabee had his name all over the headlines because some poll or other had him as the #1 conservative hopeful for the job, ahead of Palin, Gingrich, Ryan and Pawlenty (but I don't know who else was on the poll list, either). I liked Mike in 2008, but I wasn't crazy about him. He's a solid conservative, but he has real issues with mainstream views in traditional Christian positions and lacks (seemingly) any ability to present these positions in a clear and well-defined manner. This is especially true of his position on "creationism", of which he claims to be a staunch defender.

I'm still damn worried about the likes of Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann running. Both are polarizing figures in the political field, and while both have shown a measurable ability to motivate and energize the base, they are less than appealing to the average moderate or independent voter. They are also likely to face the most rabid and wide-spread media bias in their campaign coverage of any of the possible candidates, and while Palin has shown an ability to deal with this, Bachmann has not.

Newt Gingrich has done incredible things to "rebuild" his legacy as the former Speaker of the House and the primary author of the Contract with America... but he hasn't done anything to make himself look less an impediment now then he was in 1998, when he resigned the office of Speaker with an approval rating of less than 40% (only Pelosi's rating has ever been lower in the last 70+ years). He has a clear vision of what he thinks America needs, and is pretty good at delivering it to the public, but he still has trouble getting that message out without people focusing solely on his past. In short, there's a lot of baggage with this guy... and that isn't a good thing right now.

Senator Jim DeMint is another "Tea Party" favorite, and a rock-solid conservative. He's Southern, he's middle-aged (meaning he's not the oldest guy that might run), and he has shown a real commitment to what he believes are "fundamental" conservative values. He is out-spoken and (usually) pretty eloquent in his presentation... he could be a real asset in the 2012 ticket bid, even if he is only the VP candidate.

Now, to the real meat-and-potatoes of the run... the Governors.

I still think that Jindal, whether he wants it or not, is a potential candidate. He's done wonders for LA, and he is committed to finishing the job, but he can't deny the level of national attention and support that he has built up over the last six year. He can bring real experience to the White House, and he is better-than-most at making his message clear and understandable. He has avoided the typical "stain" of Louisiana "corruption" that has mired so many other past candidates from that State... and he is a minority to boot.

Pawlenty is another solid conservative... but his inability to get MN financial issues under control in his two terms is going to be thrown back in his face as soon as he promises to fix the national problem. I'm not saying it was his fault entirely... he was saddled with one of the most liberal State Congresses in history... but he can't dodge the questions that will come.

Barbour is a favorite of mine... but he is awfully "old school" and might find that a real burden in modern media spotlights. Still, even his drawl can't force people to ignore that MS has really, really boomed in spite of the worst economy in 50 years, and that the pinch was felt far less there than it was in other States (California, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York jump immediately to mind, don't they?).

I still think a good "mix" for a GOP ticket would be an executive in the top spot, and someone like Rep. Paul Ryan as the VP candidate... or perhaps Bachmann. Real experience and know-how to be President, and real support and "glam" for the VP spot. Ryan or Bachmann could deliver that "glam" (and both are mid-westerners, too... as well as Catholic). DeMint seems the only real Senator with a chance, and he might benefit from a Ryan or Bachmann "softening up"... but that might be just a bit too much "Tea Party" for the bulk of moderate America to take.

I also can't count out Governors like Walker in WI, who might make enough of a splash in the headlines over the next twelve months to really build up some support... especially coming from Ohio or Indiana (real dark-horse conservative hold-out states).

Thoughts?