February 03, 2011 07:51 PM UTC

Is the GOP Presidential Field Too Big?

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• by: Colorado Pols

We didn’t get a chance yesterday to point to this interesting piece from our friends at “The Fix” about the Republican Presidential field. As “The Fix” ponders, is the GOP field so large (at least 18 potential candidates already) that it will hurt their chances at taking back the White House in 2012?

Since the 1968 election, the largest number of candidates to run for a party’s nomination is 12, which has happened four times: 1972 (Democrats), 1976 (Democrats), 2000 (Republicans) and 2008 (Republicans). (The last presidential election holds the distinction as the largest combined field with 20 total candidates seeking their respective parties’ nominations.)…

…But, is there a danger for Republican in the general election if the primary field does grow to a dozen or more?

…History provides mixed results on the question. In the four contests where one side had 12 people in the running, the party with the large field won two general elections and lost two. And, it’s hard to ascribe Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 loss to the large number of GOP candidates in the race.

That doesn’t mean that an overcrowded field of candidates can’t impact a primary, however.

The two biggest risks of an overcrowded field, notes “The Fix,” are these:

1. A large field makes it harder for credible, but lesser-known candidates to get traction;

2. A crowded race could extend the Primary season into the spring and summer of 2012, which leaves less time for the GOP to unite behind one candidate.

What do you think, Polsters? Vote after the jump.

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