WASHINGTON — Nearly four in 10 Republicans and those who lean toward Republicans said they were unhappy with their current choices in the presidential field, according to a new Washington Post/Pew Research Center poll, data that will fuel speculation about possible late entrants into the race.
Asked to choose a single word to describe the Republican slate of candidates, fully 37 percent of self-identified Republicans and Republican leaners chose a word with a negative connotation — with “not impressed/unimpressed” the most commonly mentioned phrase.
Among all respondents, 44 percent offered a negative one-word assessment of the Republican field, including, not surprisingly, 52 percent of Democrats.
More potentially problematic for Republicans hoping to unseat President Barack Obama in November 2012 was that 48 percent of independents described the GOP candidates negatively, while just 10 percent offered a positive one-word description.
The dissatisfaction with the Republican field comes in the wake of decisions by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels not to run. Both were considered serious contenders for the GOP nod.
The level of unhappiness is likely to stoke speculation about possible candidacies by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who seemed to open the door to a bid last week, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Other names regularly mentioned as 2012 candidates — including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Sen. Jim De Mint — have unequivocally ruled out the possibility of running.
Even if none of the people mentioned decide to run, the lack of excitement about the 2012 field poses a problem for those candidates already in the race as the speculation has the effect of minimizing them and making it tougher for any one of them to build real momentum.
It remains to be seen whether the level of voter dissatisfaction about the field will dissipate once the race is genuinely joined — a moment that appears to be drawing close.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the nomination, will formally enter the race today in New Hampshire, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is expected to make his campaign official Monday.
On June 13, the candidates will debate in New Hampshire.
