The Occasional Observer

In this story from the WaTimes, we find out that the Republican Study Committee (the conservative think tank of the GOP House caucus) invited the three front-runners for the GOP Presidential nomination to speak at their most recent study group. McCain and Giuliani declined to come, but Mitt gave a speech. The following line from Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) pretty much sums up where the RSC stands:

I don't see any one of them being singled out as a great front-runner by the House Republican members or any one of them being singled out as a 'no-go'

That sentiment will have to change soon for Mitt to make a real run. He needs to have a clear majority of supporters among conservatives if he's going to get enough traction, funding, and media attention to get past the name recognition candidates (McCain, Giuliani). It's still early. But these days, it gets late early.

One other interesting note from the article (my emphasis):

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay addressed the group Friday morning, but the most impressive performer, members said, was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who gave the dinner speech Thursday.

"We have to act independently of the White House. You do not serve the president, you serve with the president," Mr. Gingrich said, according to a Republican present at the dinner, which was closed to the press.

"Newt blew the group away," said another Republican who attended the dinner. "He is on such a different intellectual plane. He warned that the conference moves too slow and the RSC should be outmaneuvering the conference. He also said that the Republicans should neither blame nor support President Bush on issues that divide the Republicans from their base."

I have a hard time believing that Mitt takes a back seat to anyone on intellect, but Newt makes the big picture arguments that really hit home with base, as opposed to Mitt who, in the speeches I've seen, tends to move from the particular to the universal instead of the other way around.