If you haven’t cracked the code yet, “major announcement” means that former New York Governor George Pataki will likely be the latest to jump into the 2012 Republican Presidential fray. He’s coming to Iowa for the Polk County Republican Picnic and Road to the White House Presidential forum. Lynn Campbell of IowaPolitics.com reports that Darrell Kearney who does fundraising for the Polk County GOP said that Pataki is attending, and may have a major announcement.
Pataki will be joined by Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, and Texas Governor Rick Perry.
So the million dollar question – who is hurt the most by Pataki getting into the race? I don’t see Pataki hurting Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, former Senator Rick Santorum or Paul. I can see him pulling from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s base though. Which that will certainly help Bachmann and possibly Perry. I don’t see his candidacy going anywhere, but it could definitely put a kink in Romney’s campaign plans.
There isn’t any evidence that playing to moderates will be a winning strategy, and there is really only room for one establishment candidate in the race. So I hope he stays in and splits the vote.