Frist one of many courting N.H. for '08 bid

[jojo54]

Here's the link to the Phila Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/11068985.htm (you have to register - sorry, it's too long of an article to post). Here's a paragraph or two:

'All the Republicans now engaged in the early competition to succeed President Bush are well aware that the unwritten rules require regular attendance in the Granite State, where it is decreed that they must pay obeisance to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, and act as if every town politician is their new best friend. And, sure enough, here was Tennessee's Bill Frist, ensconced at the head table at a city Republican banquet, clapping dutifully for the local finance chairman and other notables, and smiling gamely as a pol at the podium struggled to emulate Jay Leno ("You know, Dr. Frist is a surgeon, and I hear he's a 'cut' above the rest. In fact, when you're around Senator Frist, you should never say, 'Cut it out!' But seriously, folks...").'

'Roughly a dozen Republicans may be willing to brave this gauntlet - including former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York Gov. George E. Pataki, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona - because there is no dominant candidate. Vice President Cheney says he won't run, and President Bush has not anointed a successor. So the 2008 Republican race has commenced. At least seven aspirants have already phoned Concord lawyer Tom Rath. That, too, is part of the ritual, because Rath knows all the state Republican players, and he serves on the Republican National Committee. "Nobody can afford to come up here and stray from the Bush agenda," he said. "Nobody will want to anger the base. At some point, there may even be a 'Karl primary,' " a reference to Bush strategist Karl Rove, who might decide at some point to bless somebody. Or so Rath suspects.'

But here's the best part: 'And the President's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, insists he won't run.' LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!