Is former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey testing the waters for a potential Presidential campaign in 2008? Listen to the Washington Post's Politics Blog czar Chris Cillizza:
Armey is now headed to Iowa for a speech on Sept. 19, stoking speculation that he may fancy himself a candidate for president in 2008. Although Armey told ABC News that he has "no interest in Dick Armey for president," he left the door open -- wide open.
Aides were quick to point out that the former leader is likely to visit the presidential proving grounds of New Hampshire and South Carolina later this year. An aide said Armey hopes to "keep the Reagan legacy alive in the presidential primary."
Read the rest at the link above. Hat-tip to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire for pointing to this story.
Armey is certainly the leading surviving proponent of Reaganomics. He proposes a "flat" income tax, similar to that put forth by Steve Forbes, and is - properly - disdainful of consumption tax alternatives. Most credit him as the primary proponent and author of the 1994 Republican "Contract With America" that many credit with tipping the balance of power in the House to the GOP after Democrats had controlled it for all but two of the previous 32 Congresses.
Armey wouldn't lose many debates, but whether he has the charisma and fundraising ability to mount a serious Presidential campaign is an open question.
I agree with Armey on economic issues most of the time, but I have to include him in the group of potential Presidential candidates with whom I have serious reservations. Like Senators McCain, Biden, Clinton, Kerry, and Dodd, and former Speaker Gingrich, he lacks sufficient successful management experience to be the CEO of the world's largest enterprise. At least Brownback was Kansas' Secretary of Agriculture, no doubt an important job in that state but scarcely a large enough operation to test his administrative skills for the biggest job of all.
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2008 Presidential Race, General politics
