How's Huntsman-Bachmann in 2012 sound? It's music to the ears for former Regan aide Ed Rogers, who, writing in the Washington Post today, thinks it's the best chance the Republicans have of beating President Obama. In former Utah governor and ambassador Jon Huntsman (who has not entered the race) Rogers sees an "articulate, attractive, cerebral, urbane internationalist… in other words, he is 'toast' in today's Republican Party." In Bachmann, he sees "a star in the party and bulletproof with our right wing."

Rogers, once a top staffer to President George H. W. Bush and now chairman of BGR Group, a Washington lobbying firm, suggests a meeting of the minds. "Think about it. Unless there is a new dynamic to the 2012 campaign [he's referring here to a weak Republican field] Huntsman probably can't win the nomination and Bachmann probably shouldn't." Most intriguing is the suggestion of a vice presidential slot for the third-term House Republican from Minnesota.