GOP Bigs: We Can Beat Obama — With Right Candidate

Many Republican heavyweights see President Barack Obama as vulnerable in next year’s election. But they aren’t sure that anyone from the current crop of candidates can do the trick, The Hill reports.

“In recent weeks, as economic news has continued to worsen, Republicans have begun to think that President Obama is not just vulnerable, but beatable,” said Mark McKinnon, a strategist for President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. “And that’s why you are seeing candidates like Rick Perry, Rudy Giuliani, and George Pataki testing the waters.”

The slump in Obama’s approval ratings and the dismal state of the economy give Republicans hope.

“This is a very winnable election for Republicans. The wider the field, the better, I think,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supports former New York City Mayor Giuliani.