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Obama's declining popularity]] across all voter demographics has stirred talk he may face a primary challenge. [[Liberal]] [[Mike Bloomberg]] might run as an independent, splitting votes with [[Obama]].

Obama's declining popularity]] across all voter demographics has stirred talk he may face a primary challenge. [[Liberal]] [[Mike Bloomberg]] might run as an independent, splitting votes with [[Obama]].

The '''Presidential Election 2012''' features "[[stalking horse]]" candidates in the primary, just as McCain backers used [[Fred Thompson]] in 2008 to prevent [[Mitt Romney]] from winning.  Thompson was undeservedly promoted by pro-life groups and the [[Fox News Channel]], and thereby siphoned off [[pro-life]]rs and other [[conservative]]s from Romney.  Then Thompson withdrew and endorsed McCain.  Mike Huckabee is a stalking horse for Newt Gingrich in 2012.  Stalking horses for Mitt Romney are likely Rick Santorum and Chris Christie.

For the Republican nomination, a sophisticated set of "[[stalking horse]]" candidates and endorsers are being used, as in 2008 when [[Fred Thompson]] and [[Mike Huckabee]] prevented [[Mitt Romney]] from winning.  This time Mitt Romney has [[Rick Santorum]], [[Chris Christie]] and probably [[Tim Pawlenty]] on his side, while [[Newt Gingrich]] will likely have on his side [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Sarah Palin]], national pro-life groups, and the [[Fox News Channel]].

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== Ranking of Potential Republican Candidates by Likelihood of Winning Nomination ==

== Ranking of Potential Republican Candidates by Likelihood of Winning Nomination ==