Presidency not the only prize in White House race
WASHINGTON — In the 2012 White House election, even the losers could end up winners, reaping book deals, TV contracts and other benefits from the unprecedented public attention of the race.They…
WASHINGTON — In the 2012 White House election, even the losers could end up winners, reaping book deals, TV contracts and other benefits from the unprecedented public attention of the race.They may not get to claim the grand prize of the most powerful job on Earth, but may reap handsome rewards, just for having tossed their hats in the ring.A former presidential candidate can go from a virtual unknown to a household name in the blink of an eye, often with a hefty book deal and public adulation accompanying the political celebrity."You can get a TV spot. You can get a million-dollar contract. You can get speaking fees that are just astronomical. That's really what it's about," said Larry Sabato, a veteran political analyst who runs the Center For Politics at the University of Virginia.Especially for lesser-known political players, months on the campaign trail can pay off big time, according to experts who say nothing burnishes a political resume quite like a presidential bid.A good example is the upstart campaign 2008 contender Mike Huckabee, who went from being the little known former governor of Arkansas to fame and considerable fortune as the host of a popular cable television talk show -- a gig that he seemed unwilling to risk for the uncertainty of a repeat run in 2012.Among those deemed to have long odds of capturing the 2012 nomination are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose campaign imploded this week with the resignations of his top campaign staff.Just slightly better chances are given to former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is also said to be flirting with running.Even real estate mogul Donald Trump has been unable to completely walk away from the hunt, after announcing last month that he had decided not to run.Some contenders will enter the race knowing they are long shots, but remembering that this time last election cycle, now-President Barack Obama was a virtually unknown senator given little chance of winning
last modification 2011-06-12 05:15:39
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