GOP Dark Horses for 2012

The American electorate loves a dark horse—the candidate that comes out of nowhere and, against the odds, becomes a serious contender. Barack Obama can claim that distinction, as can Mike Huckabee, whose 2008 bid presaged Tea-Party enthusiasm. But who will it be in 2012? Chris Cillizza has some ideas in the Washington Post:

• Marco Rubio. Sure, he's 39 and not even sworn into the Senate, but he's a perfect match to the current conservative zeitgeist, a trait that, on the liberal side, rocketed another young senator into the White House not too long ago...

• Mike Pence. As a former House member, he's got less name-recognition than his Senate peers. But he's the rare candidate—in this environment, anyway—that satisfies both social and fiscal conservatives.
• Scott Brown. Already a bit of a dark horse when he won the special election for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, Brown faces fierce opposition in a traditionally blue state if he chooses to keep his job—but could be well-received on the national level.

For the final contender, click here.
(More GOP stories.)