Win McNamee
Republicans Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney are all widely expected to run against Obama in 2012–but don't expect them to throw their hats in the ring any time soon. Republicans are waiting as long as possible before committing to a presidential run, The Wall Street Journal reports Friday. "There's a feeling that everything just dragged on too long last time," said one aide from the 2008 Romney campaign. "What's happening now has the feel of a huge work-force slowdown." By this point in 2006, five members of the GOP had already made early filings to run in the 2008 election. But just under two years from the next one, no prospective Republican candidate has announced his candidacy. A rejiggered primary schedule is a factor.