GOP presidential hopefuls still hang back

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Looking ahead to the 2012 U.S. presidential election, no one has dominated the Republican Party as it determines who will be its standard-bearer in two years.

Despite the first GOP candidate debate being announced -- but a date not set -- and some early handicapping under way, no one has front-runner status, The Washington Post reported.

"I don't think anybody's going to miss out a lot by waiting a couple of months," said Mike DuHaime, who managed former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's presidential campaign before joining 2008 presidential nominee John McCain's team. "You can't wait eight or nine months, but it doesn't have to be in December and January."

Another reason GOP contenders aren't announcing is the hangover from Election Day, analysts said. With a Republican majority in the House and more Republicans in the Senate, the focus early next year will be on political skirmishes in the nation's capital rather than jostling on the road to the nomination.

Once campaigning begins in earnest in February 2012, Republicans likely will face another round of in-party battles between the establishment and grassroots insurgents en route to the party nomination, the Post said. The risk, observers said, is that candidates will be moved too far right in the primaries, potentially hurting their prospects in the general election.

So far, only a few are considered certain to run, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and outgoing Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Others have signaled they may make a bid, but the field is far from defined, the Post said.

The most significant of prominent Republicans not tipping her hand is Sarah Palin, television commentator, Tea Party darling and the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee. But her travel schedule next month includes two stops to Iowa as part of her book tour.