Sununu: 2012 Presidential Race Well Under Way

Some pundits have said the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is developing slowly because no candidate has committed yet. But former New Hampshire governor and outgoing GOP state Chairman John Sununu doesn’t see it that way, Politico reports.

"What is this recurring theme that I keep seeing in the national press that it’s starting late?" Sununu tells the news service, noting the many visits by potential contenders to the early-primary state.

"There are new rules and new roles. They’re all spending time with their accountants and lawyers figuring out how to do this. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not showing themselves up here. Romney’s been here dozens of times; Pawlenty’s been here almost a dozen times. What’s so late about that? They have been here since the day after Obama was elected."

Instead of formal campaigns candidates are utilizing state PACs, 527s, 501(c)(3) groups to launch their efforts.