President 2012: Republicans Waiting for 2016 Should Run in 2012

According to South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urged Republicans who are reportedly waiting until 2016 to run for president to consider getting off the sidelines for 2012.

Graham said Monday that the time was ripe to take on President Obama, and that any candidate with the ambition to be president should run.

“If you really decide to do this, now’s the time,” Graham said, noting speculation that a number of top GOP candidates are waiting until 2016. “If you think you should be president, it’s not about timing, it’s about ability.”

Absolutely correct. Chris Christie, Bobby Jindahl, Sarah Palin. Mitch Daniels, Bob McDonnell should ALL give it a shot.

President Obama WILL have an advantage but the race is really in just a few states. I mean, who cares about California and New York?

Graham is correct here:

Graham said that he didn’t expect Obama to win North Carolina, Virginia or Indiana, as he did in 2008, and speculated that the president might be vulnerable in Wisconsin and Ohio, the latter of which is a traditional bellwether in presidential campaigns.

“Any sitting president probably has some built-in advantages, but this guy’s incredibly exposed,” Graham said.

All a GOP nominee needs to do is win/flip Virginia, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Game, set, match.