GOP governors meet in Florida

GOP governors meet in Florida

NOVEMBER 13, 2008 - The 2008 Republican Governors Association convened in Miami Wednesday for a three-day meeting. Fresh on the heels of the GOP loss of the White House and seeing their numbers decrease in the Senate and House, the party is shifting focus on the 36 governors seats up for election in two years.

Many in the GOP are looking to their governors for a fresh direction for the party and also for the best prospects for winning the presidency in 2012.

Governor Crist is hosting the meeting and while still holding good but lower approval numbers, has seen Florida lose 115,000 jobs so far this year, the most of any U.S. state, fueling worries that he will become the target of a concerted Democratic effort to defeat him in 2010.

"Any Republican who's thinking past 2010 doesn't have his eye on the ball," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican Party who has worked as a lawyer and lobbyist, has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in four years. He said Wednesday that the party needs to focus on the 36 governors seats up for election in two years.

Many believe Alaska Governor and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has been sending the clearest signals yet that she would be interested in running for the top job. She was asked Wednesday about speculation that she is the party's future.

"I don't think it's me personally, I think it's what I represent," Palin told reporters. "Everyday hardworking American families — a woman on the ticket perhaps represents that. It would be good for the ticket. It would be good for the party. I would be happy to get to do whatever is asked of me to help progress this nation."

If she runs in 2012, Palin faces possible competition from a number of other governors, including Barbour, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Florida Governor Charlie Crist.