GOP Presidential Hopefuls Get Ready for 2008

March 10, 2006 — -- Republican presidential hopefuls will strut their stuff in Memphis, Tenn., this weekend at the 2006 Southern Republican Leadership Conference. The lack of an incumbent president or vice president makes this the first wide-open presidential contest since 1952.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; Sen. George Allen, R-Va.; Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; and even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- to name a few -- will be trying to win an informal straw poll, which is voted on by the thousands of party activists who attend the conference at the historic Peabody Hotel. So far, no one has officially declared he is running for president.

Early presidential polls make McCain the pack leader right now. In a Marist Poll conducted on Feb. 22, 52 percent said they would vote for McCain if he was running for president against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. He's still got a lot to prove to the conservative crowd.

"I think he will be on his best behavior," said Linda Chavez, a Republican activist and former White House director of public liaison. "I think he's going to reach out. He pretty much already has the independents and moderates."

A lot of Republicans predict a more conservative candidate will ultimately grab the nomination. The hot name right now is Allen, also a former Virginia governor.

"He's got a lot of the George Bush characteristics in him," Chavez said. "He's a likeable guy. You can sit and have a real conversation with him. He does not come across as aloof or elitist in any way."

This meeting comes at an extremely turbulent time for Republicans and will give a sense of direction about where the party is headed. While President Bush won't be there, he will be the focus. There is enormous party frustration over everything from the port deal to government spending to his plummeting poll numbers.

Each potential candidate will try to delicately distance himself from these problems, but will be careful not to snub the White House.