IN BRIEF: Republicans begin exploring presidential runs in 2012

Published: November 16, 2008

Republicans begin exploring presidential runs in 2012

WASHINGTON — Several Republicans seem to be testing the waters for potential White House runs in 2012. At least two are on tap for visits this month to Iowa, which traditionally opens the nominating season.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered a rising star in the GOP and thought to have been on John McCain’s short list of potential running mates, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Nov. 22 to Iowa Family Policy Center, a Christian conservative group.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses this year in his failed bid for the GOP nomination, is scheduled to visit Iowa on Thursdayas part of a national book tour promoting his campaign memoir, "Do the Right Thing.”

Sarah Palin has indicated that she’ll stay on the national political scene. The Alaska governor says: "I’m not doing this for naught.”

And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also failed to win the nomination this year, has restarted his political action committee.

Also in the news ...

Professor denies ties to Obama

CHICAGO — Vietnam-era radical Bill Ayers said Friday he doesn’t know President-elect Barack Obama any better than "thousands of other Chicagoans” and that the two never talked about Ayers’ anti-war activities. In an interview on ABC’s "Good Morning America,” the professor disputed that in the new edition of his 2001 memoir he describes himself and Obama as "family friends.”

From Wire Services

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