By Quin Hillyer on 1.21.11 @ 6:09AM

From the random department of random thoughts which randomly takes the place of a fully developed, single-subject column:

[kpolls]

Subject one, Mike Pence: The Indiana congressman has become the fulcrum around which the Republican presidential campaign will take shape. He may be nowhere near the top of the polls among Republicans nationwide, because he does not have the name ID of possible contenders Palin, Gingrich, Romney, and Huckabee — but whether Pence runs or doesn’t run makes a huge difference as to what “space” remains, in terms of messaging and strategy, within the field. With stalwart conservative movement leaders such as Morton Blackwell, Dick Armey, Brent Bozell III, David McIntosh, and Jim Ryun all reportedly urging Pence to run and offering at least tacit support, Pence will have the opportunity to be the very first full “movement conservative” to run for president since Ronald Reagan. Nobody since Reagan has so fully supported all three pillars of the movement (financial, defense, social). Without Pence in the race, the other candidates will all be vying for “movement” leader support, individual leader by individual leader. If Pence runs, the other candidates will need to hunt organizational ducks elsewhere. ……

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