… or at least the GOP nomination.

By Denise Ross

The John Thune in 2012 movement has officially begun. In case there was any doubt before, New York Times columnist David Brooks (a personal fave here at the Hoghouse) essentially sanctioned Thune as the GOP’s Obama in a Friday column.

(D)eep in the bowels of the G.O.P., there are serious people having quiet conversations. The people holding these conversations created and admired Bob McDonnell’s perfectly executed Virginia gubernatorial campaign. And now as they look to the future of their party, and who might lead it in 2012, the name John Thune keeps popping up. …

If you wanted a Republican with the same general body type and athletic grace as Barack Obama, you’d pick Thune. … (P)eople say that he is unfailingly genial, modest and nice … and possesses idyllic small-town manners, like the perfect boy in a Thornton Wilder play. He appears to be untouched by cynicism. In speeches and interviews, he is straightforward, intelligent and earnest. He sometimes seems to have emerged straight into the 21st century from a more wholesome time.

Awww, our boy from Murdo hasn’t lost his touch. (Seriously, imagine what a refreshing novelty Thune must be - as Daschle was before him - in a place filled with folks who often lack manners equal to their bursting egos.)

When I read the Obama comparison, I cringed a little because Obama emerged by taking a bold stance - opposing the war - and has followed that up with so many more bold and ambitious initiatives many analysts think his presidency could derail into a fiery wreckage under all the strain. I can’t think of a single truly bold move Thune has made, outside of taking on Tom Daschle five years ago.

But then Brooks gets to that piece of the Thune puzzle.

His positions on the issues are unremarkable. He is down-the-line conservative on social, economic and foreign policy matters.

Brooks goes on to note that it is Thune’s style moreso than his substance that GOP insiders hope might right their creaking ship.

What’s notable is the way he talks about the issues and jumps off from them. He is a gracious and ecumenical legislator, not a combative one.

Thune’s such a rock solid conservative that his sterling credentials leave him free to talk about bread and butter issues and leave the social issues alone, Brooks says. When it comes to containing government, he’s conservative but not radical.

Brooks sees a perfect presidential package, wrapped neatly with a bow, awaiting the 2012 convention when the faithful will discover the gift that is John Thune. When compared to others now leading the field - Palin, Romney, Huckabee - Thune does look darn good. But he’s not the exciting candidate he could be. If he took on a knotty challenge and accomplished something undeniably consequential - if he attempted something difficult and did it on the high wire over the public square - he would be formidable indeed.

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