Rick Snyder, Scott Walker and John Kasich;
 three Midwestern governors running for prez?

One of my favorite pastimes these days is listening to the various animated reactions from people when the subject of a possible President Snyder is raised.
The newest twist in this story is that Grover Norquist, the nation’s most prominent tax fighter, said that Snyder, if he gets into the presidential race, could run as a candidate with a good record on taxes. That suggestion would likely infuriate seniors — Democrats and Republicans — who got dinged by the increase in the pension tax.
Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, added one caveat. The Republican governor could emerge as a competitive candidate if the Proposal 1 sales tax plan fails in Tuesday’s vote.

Here’s how the Wall Street Journal explains it:
“(Norquist) predicted that the Michigan ballot initiative would fail and that a big test for Mr.Snyder will be what he does in response: look for other ways to raise taxes, or find budget-cutting government reforms to help finance highway improvements.
“’If he shifts to government reform, it would be in the rear-view mirror and he would be a serious candidate for president,’ said Mr. Norquist. But if Mr. Snyder responded to its rejection by pursuing alternative tax increases — or if the ballot measure passed — Mr.Norquist said, ‘I think it would make it very difficult for him to runfor president in a field of other governors who governed without raising taxes.’”

Meanwile, WSJ reports, Fred Malek, a Republican fundraiser who heads the finance committee of the Republican Governors Association, said he looks forward to Snyder and Ohio Gov. John Kasich entering the mix.
“My guess is that both will enter the race, and both have had great success as governors,” he said.
“If they enter, they would crowd (Jeb) Bush and (Scott) Walker a bit, but they add to our best ever field of qualified candidates.”
In response to those words, I think the groans from Michigan Democrats might be heard all the way to Washington.

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