The Women Who Would be President. Will They Run?

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

The women who would be president in 2012 are still sitting on the sidelines. But that could change soon.

Philip Scott Andrews/The New York TimesRepresentative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota at a Tea Party rally in front of the Capitol.�

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, are each dropping hints that their political futures might yet include a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Ms. Bachmann has been more obvious as she gears up for what observers believe is likely to be a strategy built primarily on winning Iowa?s first-in-the-nation caucuses by appealing to the state?s Tea Party conservatives and evangelical voters.

On Friday, more than 150,000 residents of Iowa and South Carolina picked up their phones to hear a recorded message from Ms. Bachmann criticizing President Obama?s speech Thursday on the Middle East. In a statement, she accused Mr. Obama of ?a shocking display of betrayal? toward Israel.

In an interview with Fox News this week, Ms. Bachmann said she had intended to announce her decision in June, but could move that up now that Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and an early Iowa favorite, said he would not run.

?Our phones have been ringing off the hook, our Facebook has been lit up, our donations are pouring in,? she said.

Ms. Bachmann is scheduled to give a speech in Des Moines on May 26, giving rise to speculation that she might announce her candidacy then.

Ms. Palin has been more mysterious, offering little direct commentary about a presidential run and making almost no moves to assemble a traditional presidential campaign apparatus.

Still, she said on Fox News on Thursday night that she still had the ?fire in the belly? to run for president, motivated by an interest in ridding the country of Mr. Obama?s leadership.

Ozier Muhammad/The New York TimesSarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, speaks to the Long Island Association, a business consortium.

?It?s a matter for me of some kind of practical, pragmatic decisions that have to be made,? Ms. Palin said. ?One is, with a large family, understanding the huge amount of scrutiny and the sacrifices that have to be made on my children?s part in order to see their mama run for president. But yeah, the fire in the belly ? it?s there.?

With Mr. Huckabee out of the race and Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, in a campaign crisis, Ms. Palin?s opportunities for success are growing. Those close to Ms. Palin have said for months that they believe that she could be successful in Iowa.

Will either of the two women actually jump into the race?

Ms. Palin remains a celebrity whose appearances on Fox News and the speaking circuit earn her a sizable income. Running for president would require her to put both efforts on hold during her candidacy.

But few of her allies or rivals doubt her ability to raise millions of dollars easily, and aides have signaled for months that if she gets into the race, it could be later in the summer.

Ms. Bachmann is also considered a good fund-raiser, and the departure of Mr. Huckabee as a possible candidate could give her Iowa strategy a boost. She could make a decision as soon as the end of the month.

The Women Who Would be President. Will They Run?

The women who would be president in 2012 are still sitting on the sidelines. But that could change soon.

Is the Ryan Budget a Litmus Test for 2012 Republicans?

Declared and undeclared candidates for the Republican nomination are treading carefully around Representative Paul D. Ryan?s budget proposal.

Is the Ryan Budget a Litmus Test for 2012 Republicans?

Declared and undeclared candidates for the Republican nomination are treading carefully around Representative Paul D. Ryan?s budget proposal.

Democrats? New Tactic: Praising 2012 Republicans

What?s with all this Democratic praise of the Republicans eager to oust Mr. Obama from office? A hint: it?s not a sudden outbreak of bipartisanship.

Is the Ryan Budget a Litmus Test for 2012 Republicans?

Declared and undeclared candidates for the Republican nomination are treading carefully around Representative Paul D. Ryan?s budget proposal.

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Jon M. Huntsman Jr. said that President Obama should not have intervened in Libya and that military engagements should be weighed based on their financial toll.

By STEVEN LEE MYERS

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By DAVID E. SANGER

President Obama left open how far the U.S. could go in matching its enthusiasm with concrete steps to support a transformation in the Middle East.

Huntsman Takes His Potential Campaign for Test Drive in New Hampshire

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Ever since he returned from his post as ambassador to China, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. has been studying the intricate details of campaigning for the Republican nomination.

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The nominee, Goodwin Liu, had testified against the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel A. Alito Jr..

Newspaper in Pakistan Publishes WikiLeaks Cables

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Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/the-women-who-would-be-president-will-they-run/

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