GOP Dark Horses for 2012

By Tom Bevan & Mike Memoli
Three years before the 2008 election, Barack Obama was a freshman Senator from Illinois who had wowed the crowd with his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was touted as a rising star in the Democratic party, but not seriously considered as a legitimate presidential candidate for the 2008 race. Likewise, in November 2005 Mike Huckabee was serving his ninth year as Governor of Arkansas and was on no one's radar screen as a serious presidential contender. Twenty-six months later Huckabee stormed the field, won the Iowa caucuses, and went on to finish second to the eventual nominee, John McCain.
This time around, Huckabee now sits atop the heap of speculation about possible GOP candidates for 2012, along with other familiar faces including former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich. There is a new face in the mix as well: Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is actively pursuing the rubber-chicken circuit and giving off every indication that he will throw his hat in the ring.

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But there are a handful of other potential Republican presidential candidates who are getting little, if any, attention. It's possible a number of these Republicans who are not currently part of the conversation will decide to make the race and could emerge as serious contenders for the nomination. So who are the GOP dark horses for 2012? Click here to see the list.