GOP's 2012 hopefuls crowd town they love to hate Governors brace for more economic turmoil

Republicans who may want President Barack Obama's job flocked to the town they love to hate this weekend and repeatedly ripped into the Democrat, an early tryout of sorts for the GOP nomination. "Barack Obama has created at least three jobs that I know of: Bob McDonnell, Chris Christie and Scott Brown," former House speaker Newt Gingrich told a fawning crowd Saturday, celebrating recent GOP victories in governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, and the Senate in Massachusetts, respectively. He predicted Republicans would take back control of Congress this fall and added: "We'll elect a new president in 2012." In appearance after appearance, possible GOP contenders used two national platforms — a caucus of conservatives and a gathering of governors — to promote their credentials and test their strength in an incredibly fluid field a full two years before the GOP chooses its nominee. Along with Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania courted conservatives with lengthy speeches at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour held court at the National Governors Association meeting as chairman of the GOP governors, while Govs. Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana attended. Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty plugged away at both events. Among possible candidates missing: 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and South Dakota Sen. John Thune. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presence was limited to a video shown to a small group of conservatives.