STARKSMIN, Wellington--As Conservatives look to take on incumbent Nationalist Gov. Pierre Carten ("Car-tain") again in 2014, the party is waiting for its 2010 gubernatorial candidate, architect-turned-state Senator Craig Thoyer ("Toy-er"), to decide if he will run a second time.
Thoyer came close to defeating Carten in the 2010 election, but fell short 48.6%-51.4%.
But Conservatives are already drafting their game plan for the 2014 race.
The party has quietly been reaching out to possible candidates, and has solicited polls to gauge support for potential nominees.
Some well-known Conservatives are interested in challenging Carten in 2014, but are reluctant to get in the race until Thoyer makes his plans clear.
Because he came close to winning in 2010, tradition allows for Thoyer to have a clear path to the nomination in 2014, if he wants to run.
But Thoyer has yet to reveal his plans for 2014.
In an interview with the Starksmin Press Club (SPC) Wednesday, he admitted he is "still undecided."
"I truly have not made up my mind yet," Thoyer told the SPC. "I enjoyed the 2010 race and enjoyed being on the campaign, but it also is a major commitment, not just for me, but also for my family. And I'd have to decide if that's something I want to put them through, and also decide if I want to jump back into politics again, after two years in the private sector."
Thoyer is presently working for a suburban Starksmin real estate company.
Polls conducted by the Wellington Conservative Party show Thoyer neck-and-neck with Carten in a 2014 rematch.
A poll conducted last month by Williamson, McCabe and Denson Consultants of Starksmin showed Carten barely edging Thoyer 51% to 49% in a 2014 hypothetical match-up.
Another poll conducted last week for the Conservative Governors' Association (CGA) showed both Thoyer and Carten at 50% each.
But some party insiders believe Thoyer may not be the best-suited candidate to take on Carten in 2014.
They see either Secretary of State Robyn Ryder, or Rep. Wade Quanson of Canelli-Tudor, a folksy assemblyman from the northeastern suburbs of Starksmin, as the best candidate to take on Carten.
Both Ryder and Quanson have solid conservative credentials, and polls by the state party and the CGA show both pull even with Carten.
Ryder had mixed polling results, with one released in early January showing the secretary of state slightly leading Carten 51% to 49%, and another released in late January showing Ryder trailing Carten 48% to 52%.
Only one poll has been conducted regarding Quanson. That poll, released last week by the CGA, showed Quanson receiving 49% to Carten's 51%.
Ryder has more name recognition than Quanson, but the secretary of state is also viewed as more partisan than either Quanson or Thoyer, something that could hurt him with Wellington's infamous swing voters.
Ryder has not publicly talked about his future political aspirations. Sources close to him say he would rather wait until 2018 to run for governor, but is prepared to run in 2014 if the party cannot find a suitable candidate.
Quanson told The Chamber Thursday that he will not run if Thoyer decides to run a second time.
"I have a lot of respect for Craig Thoyer, and if he runs, I will not run against him," Quanson said.
But no one knows if Thoyer will go for a second round, much less when he will reveal his plans.
"Right now, everyone is waiting on Craig Thoyer," one CNS party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told GNN. "We can't really make an effective plan until he makes up his mind and publicizes his plans. So we'd love to hear from him soon so we can make the appropriate plans."
Thoyer told the Starksmin Press Club he will make a decision in the coming months.
"I don't think there's any real hurry to make a decision. This isn't something I want to rush into or rush out of. The political posturing is going to go on behind the scenes regardless of my decision. I'm not trying to prolong the suspense, I'm just trying to make a timely, well-thought decision. I'll be happy to tell you when I have made that decision," Thoyer said.
Last week, controversial Assemblyman Joe Wilsey (C) of Claremonte-White Pines, announced he would not run for governor in 2014.
Liz McKinn, Thoyer's 2010 running mate, told the Starksmin Frontiersman she is interested in running for governor, but would run again for lieutenant governor if Thoyer decides to run a second time.
"We were a team then, and we are a team now, if Craig decides that's what he wants to do," McKinn told the paper. "But I am considering running for governor in my own right."
The Carten campaign did not specifically address the Conservative field of potential candidates, but reiterated their confidence.
"We are confident that Wellingtonians will re-elect Pierre Carten to a second term in 2014," the campaign said.
Thoyer came close to defeating Carten in the 2010 election, but fell short 48.6%-51.4%.
But Conservatives are already drafting their game plan for the 2014 race.
The party has quietly been reaching out to possible candidates, and has solicited polls to gauge support for potential nominees.
Some well-known Conservatives are interested in challenging Carten in 2014, but are reluctant to get in the race until Thoyer makes his plans clear.
Because he came close to winning in 2010, tradition allows for Thoyer to have a clear path to the nomination in 2014, if he wants to run.
But Thoyer has yet to reveal his plans for 2014.
In an interview with the Starksmin Press Club (SPC) Wednesday, he admitted he is "still undecided."
"I truly have not made up my mind yet," Thoyer told the SPC. "I enjoyed the 2010 race and enjoyed being on the campaign, but it also is a major commitment, not just for me, but also for my family. And I'd have to decide if that's something I want to put them through, and also decide if I want to jump back into politics again, after two years in the private sector."
Thoyer is presently working for a suburban Starksmin real estate company.
Polls conducted by the Wellington Conservative Party show Thoyer neck-and-neck with Carten in a 2014 rematch.
A poll conducted last month by Williamson, McCabe and Denson Consultants of Starksmin showed Carten barely edging Thoyer 51% to 49% in a 2014 hypothetical match-up.
Another poll conducted last week for the Conservative Governors' Association (CGA) showed both Thoyer and Carten at 50% each.
But some party insiders believe Thoyer may not be the best-suited candidate to take on Carten in 2014.
They see either Secretary of State Robyn Ryder, or Rep. Wade Quanson of Canelli-Tudor, a folksy assemblyman from the northeastern suburbs of Starksmin, as the best candidate to take on Carten.
Both Ryder and Quanson have solid conservative credentials, and polls by the state party and the CGA show both pull even with Carten.
Ryder had mixed polling results, with one released in early January showing the secretary of state slightly leading Carten 51% to 49%, and another released in late January showing Ryder trailing Carten 48% to 52%.
Only one poll has been conducted regarding Quanson. That poll, released last week by the CGA, showed Quanson receiving 49% to Carten's 51%.
Ryder has more name recognition than Quanson, but the secretary of state is also viewed as more partisan than either Quanson or Thoyer, something that could hurt him with Wellington's infamous swing voters.
Ryder has not publicly talked about his future political aspirations. Sources close to him say he would rather wait until 2018 to run for governor, but is prepared to run in 2014 if the party cannot find a suitable candidate.
Quanson told The Chamber Thursday that he will not run if Thoyer decides to run a second time.
"I have a lot of respect for Craig Thoyer, and if he runs, I will not run against him," Quanson said.
But no one knows if Thoyer will go for a second round, much less when he will reveal his plans.
"Right now, everyone is waiting on Craig Thoyer," one CNS party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told GNN. "We can't really make an effective plan until he makes up his mind and publicizes his plans. So we'd love to hear from him soon so we can make the appropriate plans."
Thoyer told the Starksmin Press Club he will make a decision in the coming months.
"I don't think there's any real hurry to make a decision. This isn't something I want to rush into or rush out of. The political posturing is going to go on behind the scenes regardless of my decision. I'm not trying to prolong the suspense, I'm just trying to make a timely, well-thought decision. I'll be happy to tell you when I have made that decision," Thoyer said.
Last week, controversial Assemblyman Joe Wilsey (C) of Claremonte-White Pines, announced he would not run for governor in 2014.
Liz McKinn, Thoyer's 2010 running mate, told the Starksmin Frontiersman she is interested in running for governor, but would run again for lieutenant governor if Thoyer decides to run a second time.
"We were a team then, and we are a team now, if Craig decides that's what he wants to do," McKinn told the paper. "But I am considering running for governor in my own right."
The Carten campaign did not specifically address the Conservative field of potential candidates, but reiterated their confidence.
"We are confident that Wellingtonians will re-elect Pierre Carten to a second term in 2014," the campaign said.
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