“Why declare, then set your candidacy back immediately if something goes wrong,” one Republican strategist said. The strategist asked for anonymity because he did not want to be seen as speaking on behalf of a potential candidate…
Even if more candidates do start officially throwing their hat in the ring next month — as Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, did this week — there will be little time for debate preparation or road-testing messages in small Iowa and New Hampshire towns.
That appears to be the biggest concern for some strategists. The first few months of a campaign are often spent working out the kinks and working donors for support. Taking the chance on a debate watched by millions of people is risky at best, they say.
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