By Neil King Jr.
In an all-around weird beginning to the 2012 election cycle, it should be no surprise that the first 2012 Republican presidential debate would be shrouded in intrigue and mystery.
- Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (AP Photo/Steve Pope, File)
Yes, the debate will happen, next Thursday in Greenville, S.C. Scads of reporters will show. But who will be there to debate?
The state Republican party isn’t saying. “We will make that clear on May 3rd, after the deadline for filing paperwork for the debate has passed,” said Joel Sawyer, the party’s executive secretary.
The hitch is that only a scattering of candidates will qualify.
The party has imposed three hurdles to joining the debate. First, a candidate must have filed the paperwork for a federal exploratory committee, a qualification only five or so mainstream candidates meet. A candidate must garner at least 1% support in five national polls, which would nix a few of those already partially in the ring. And finally, a candidate must pay the state party $25,000 to register to be on the ballot in South Carolina.
That leaves few potential debaters.
Another early debate that had been scheduled for May at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., was postponed until September.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is leading in some polls in South Carolina, but he has made no moves to run. Same goes for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, real-estate developerDonald Trump, and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, none of whom made any formal filings for a campaign.
Others who have, such as former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson or former Louisiana Gov.Buddy Roemer, haven’t exactly taken off—much less been mentioned—in recent national polls. Former corporate CEO Herman Cain says he meets all the qualifications, but his spokeswoman says he hasn’t decided if he’ll attend. Also on the cusp is former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, meanwhile, has done fairly well in recent national polls, but he has yet to file a formal exploratory committee, and won’t do so that next week. “We are on our schedule, not theirs,” said Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler, speaking of the state GOP. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is.”
So that leaves as few as three potential debaters: Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Mr. Romney has given no signs of attending. So for now, that appears to leave Mr. Paul and Mr. Pawlenty.
Fearing he may be left to debate himself, Mr. Pawlenty, in a statement Friday, urged others to join him in Greenville. “It’s important that Republicans show up now, talk about their records, and begin the debate on how best we can defeat this President,” he said.
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