Richert: Sali Vs. Minnick/GOP Regulars

If Sali runs, look for him to try to cobble together a coalition of support among disaffected Republicans who want their party to take a hard turn to the right; small-government libertarian-leaning Ron Paul Republicans; and voters who, recession or no recession, focus on social issues. An odd alliance — but in a fractured Republican primary, it could be enough to get Sali another nomination. Northwest political blogger Randy Stapilus sums it up well; “Sali won in 2006 in a deeply fragmented field that advantaged him almost perfectly. There’d be strong pressure in the Republican hierarchy to avoid a repeat of that scenario”/ Kevin Richert , Idaho Statesman. More here .

Question: Do you expect mainstream Republicans to rally behind one candidate to defeat Sali in the 2010 primary? Or will it be another free-for-all with Sali emerging victorious?