NEW GUY IN TOWN? – AT 10:01 A.M. ET:  Haley Barbour has established a superb reputation as governor of Mississippi.  It was inevitable that there'd be presidential talk:

When asked about his presidential ambitions, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour told reporters earlier this year that “If you see me losing 40 pounds that means I’m either running or have cancer."

It might be time to start watching Barbour’s waistline.

POLITICO has learned that Barbour is weighing the prospect of a 2012 White House bid and convened a private meeting April 8 with a group of some of his oldest and closest advisers, some of whom flew in from the East Coast to Jackson, Miss. The gathering stretched for six hours, during which time the topic of a presidential run was discussed.

One adviser familiar with the state capital sit-down said that Barbour concluded that he did not need to make a decision now and that the group should meet again after this fall’s election.

Barbour, who as chairman of the Republican Governors Association is directing the GOP’s efforts to win the 37 governors' races this year, told his team that he would remain focused intently on November but also made clear that he would stay open to the prospect of a presidential run.

COMMENT:  Barbour would probably make an excellent president.  The only problem is getting there.

Look, let's be direct:  It's unfair, but Mississippi doesn't have exactly the best image throughout the United States.  Now, this is not the state that it was 50 years ago, but impressions change slowly over time.  The picture of the governor of Mississippi running against the first black president would probably make many Americans uncomfortable, and would provide a field day for our foreign enemies, especially if Barbour won. 

Again, it's unfair, but those are just the political realities.  Barbour's Mississippi base would probably cost him at least seven or eight percent of the vote, and would, by definition, bring out a huge black vote for Obama.  I'm not sure Barbour could be competitive.  If not, America loses a fine prospect.

April 17, 2010