12 GOP endorsements worth having (Politico)

Chris Christie?s influential endorsement of Mitt Romney last week served as a reminder that, even this deep into the Republican presidential campaign, some of the biggest and most important names in GOP politics haven?t yet committed to a candidate.

Here?s why that matters: In a nomination fight where much of the Republican electorate remains undecided, it means there are still many powerful GOP players who are poised to move the dials when they choose sides. Some bring access to money. Others will act as key validators and surrogates, or help with organization.

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Here are a dozen Republican figures who could make a difference:

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte

Ayotte has some sway over activists in her home state, and her backing would offer a meaningful Granite State stamp of approval.

A former state attorney general, she narrowly won last year?s open GOP Senate primary with the backing of women, establishment conservatives and others crucial to the winning coalition Romney is trying to put together for the first-in-the-nation primary. She even got the backing of Sarah Palin in her primary contest.

Ayotte has acknowledged Romney?s popularity and strong base in the state. She has offered support for the way he talks about health care, promising to repeal the federal law while defending what Massachusetts did on states rights grounds.

The first-term senator is likely to endorse in the weeks ahead.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour

The two-term governor, who passed on running for president this spring, is a former Republican National Committee chairman with deep ties to the donor community. He is one of the most influential figures in the GOP and has special clout in the South.

On the surface, he would seem inclined to prefer Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who succeeded him as chairman of the Republican Governors Association last year. His nephew Henry, a Republican National Committee member, is a top Perry supporter.

On Laura Ingraham?s radio show Thursday, Haley Barbour said his wife would vote for Herman Cain if the election were today. But it sounded much more like praise for his style than anything close to an actual endorsement. Barbour criticized Romneycare during the same interview.

All that said, he probably will not endorse a primary candidate. Barbour has agreed to take a lead role in fundraising for American Crossroads, the super PAC, going into the 2012 campaign.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush

The two-term ex-governor and brother of the former president remains hugely popular with Republicans in the Sunshine State. If his last name were not Bush, Jeb could almost certainly be a contender for the nomination right now. And he could well run in 2016.

Florida holds both a pivotal early primary and will be a key swing state in the general election. In 2008, then-Gov. Charlie Crist?s endorsement of John McCain played a role in the Arizona senator?s primary victory over Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

Jeb?s 28-year-old son, Jeb Jr., is a top backer of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and is head of that campaign?s youth outreach. But Romney has picked up several of the elder Bush?s key former advisers (including a few who had been with Tim Pawlenty). For his part, Jeb Bush had nice things to say about Romney on CNN Wednesday, though he added that he isn?t ready to endorse.

One thing to keep in mind ? a much-discussed but publicly denied rift between Perry and the Bush family.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels

Daniels is an establishmentarian in the mold of Barbour, only wonkier. The former director of the Office of Management and Budget passed on a presidential run and would have endorsed Barbour had he gotten in.

By temperament, he seems like a Romney guy. But he went out of his way last month to defend Perry for calling Social Security a ?Ponzi scheme.? With experience in the private and public sectors, Daniels has credibility on economic issues and deep relationships with a lot of old D.C. hands.

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