McKinnon's Top Ten

Mark McKinnon's power list.

1. Mike Huckabee
2. Mitt Romney
3. Tim Pawlenty
4. Sarah Palin
5. Newt Gingrich
6. John Thune
7. Haley Barbour
8. Mitch Daniels
9. Joe Scarborough
10. Rick Santorum

Here's guessing Huckabee's not McKinnon's kind of candidate, so the fact McKinnon's so effusive and places him at #1 is telling.

Barbour continues to be vastly overrated as a candidate. Mitch Daniels is trendy, as of late, but doesn't have the charisma to be at the top of the ticket.

The curious thing is why Rick Perry doesn't land in more of these top 10 lists. Drudge has turned him into two red banners this year, he's one of the most ambitious politicians in the country, and is the odds-on favorite to win a third term as governor of one of the most populous states in the country.

Next week, GOP12 will unveil a little special on Perry, but as Thune continues to trend as the darkhorse, it's time to think about who's going to replace him as unsung superstar. Perry fits that role and then some.

PS: Back to McKinnon's list: Let's assume #9 is a just-for-fun pick, and #10 could be an I'm sorry to Santorum for McKinnon's controversial punch in August, for which he subsequently apologized.

[Hat tip: Blake's Think Tank]