The Big Questions

摘要

Now that John Thune is out, which Republicans will actually run for President in 2012? The South Dakota Senator just joined Indiana Representative Mike Pence in skipping the chance to challenge Barack Obama. But Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour may also pass. That could leave a stunningly wee group of first-tier combatants: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty. What does Obama have in common with the new breed of hard-charging Republican governors? Like Scott Walker (Wisconsin), Rick Scott (Florida), John Kasich (Ohio) and Rick Snyder (Michigan), Obama isn't afraid to press labor unions for sacrifices, like pension and teacher work-rule changes, that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.