If Trump Is on Top, GOP Needs Fresh Blood

Maybe it's time for Chris Christie or Paul Ryan to take another look: Nate Silver
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2011 2:09 PM CDT
If Trump Is on Top, GOP Needs Fresh Blood
Donald Trump's surge in the polls shows how weak the GOP field is, writes Nate Silver.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Attention Chris Christie, or maybe Paul Ryan? Donald Trump's strong showing in recent polls illustrates just how shaky the GOP's 2012 field is, writes Nate Silver at the New York Times. He breaks the candidates into three groups: The Fairfax Five (think establishment candidates) of Romney, Pawlenty, Huntsman, Barbour, and Daniels; the Factional Five of Trump, Palin, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Ron Paul; and a few "uncategorized" ones such as Huckabee, Giuliani, and Santorum.

"That Mr. Trump, with such a cynical strategy, can rocket up in the polls so quickly suggests that the Fairfax Five and the Factional Five are both flawed in their own way," he writes. That might be good news for the Huckabee camp, but Silver thinks a few candidates who profess no interest should take a careful look at what could be a "unique opportunity." Namely, Christie, Ryan, Marco Rubio, and Rick Perry. (More 2012 Presidential Candidates stories.)

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