The fact that Haley Barbour harbors the slightest hope of being President is one of the great indicators of why Obama is not only skilled but obviously living a charmed life.

I guess it is possible for Barbour to get it -- although I imagine Huckabee will eat up all of his potential support, especially in Iowa. But imagine! The GOP field is so weak that a Mississippi Governor, who recently made his fortune as a tobacco lobbyist could be on the short list. I am waiting for the Obama netroots to start promoting Barbour any day.

Seriously, who do the Republicans have have with the ability to bring together a 50% plus one coalition in the general election? As amiable as Huckabee is, his Onward Christian Nation slogan is a non-starter for independent voters. Sarah Palin? Newt Gingrich? Bobby Jindal? Bring 'em on -- they can't win against any half awake democrat, not to mention an incumbent Obama. And I am assuming for purposes of this analysis that his first term turns out to be a disappointment.

Mitt Romney is the front runner and on the surface appears to be the biggest threat to Obama. However, he has shown himself to be a tireless but ineffective campaigner. It was interesting to watch from the sidelines as even the Republicans saw through him during the 2008 primaries. Pawlenty, Daniels, Thune...yawn.

If the Republicans were smart they would turn to a moderate -- but the narrow minds that dominate the modern GOP even pulled McCain to the far right before he was through. They are presently hopeless. And a Republican candidate that stands up against the far right during the primaries -- will go down in flames.

The republican curse is likely to continue.

And Obama's charmed political life is likely to last two terms.