shocking headline: Poll Finds Lack of Passion for Republican Candidates

By JIM RUTENBERG
With less than a year to go before the Iowa caucuses, Republican voters have yet to form strong opinions about most of their potential candidates for president in 2012, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Only those possible contenders who regularly appear on television — or have made bids before — are well known enough to elicit significant views from their fellow Republicans. And of that group, only one, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, is viewed favorably by more than half of the Republican electorate.

The poll would seem to reflect the late start to the Republican primary season, with many of the major likely candidates seeking to hoard their money and avoid making any missteps that they might have to live with later, when voters go to polls or caucus rooms.

While it may not be unusual for voters’ attention to be focused elsewhere at this stage of a campaign, the survey at the very least provides a reality check for a race that has received frenetic coverage at times on cable news and the Internet even though nearly 60 percent of Republicans cannot point to a single candidate about whom they are enthusiastic, according to the Times/CBS poll.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/us/politics/22republicans.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print

I hate them all.

There are a few whom I merely despise.

Do you view any of them with absolute detestation?

where I already hate or despise them. Some get the full battery: I hate, loathe AND despise them.

They want to be amused, not governed.

recognized the name Barack Obama?

Just sayin' it's a little early.

National Convention during the 2004 election.

A Presidential candidate has to be able to generate positive energy across a broad spectrum.

I can't find anyone in the GOP who does that. The only energy they seem to be able to generate is with the far right base.

be developing a little more sense? Is it possible?

Huckabee Yuk Yuk ... bring him on