Republican, 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate | featured news

Over the last few weeks, Washington conventional wisdom has begun to coalesce around the idea that Sarah Palin won't run for president. A number of news outlets and commentators have pointed out that she isn't doing the sorts of things that serious candidates usually do at this point in the calendar, hiring veteran staffers in the key early primary states, visiting those states regularly, and delivering speeches that begin to lay one's "vision" for the country. Roger Ailes of Fox News pointedly did not suspend her contract, as he did those of two other candidates, because, he said, she has given no sign that she is planning a campaign.

The early Republican favorite is wearing Gap skinny jeans and going tieless on network TV. But despite his makeover, he still has a hard time connecting with voters.Defying his reputation as a 1950s square, the new, more casual Mitt Romney is popping up around the country as he readies a second run for president.

Aides say the former speaker of the House will become the first major Republican candidate to enter the 2012 race.

Two likely 2012 Republican presidential candidates face the same potential barrier to winning their party's primary: President Obama has said nice things about them.