Haley Barbour, the fat cats’ candidate

By Dana Milbank,
WashPost
Friday, March 25, 8:08 PM

I settled my ample frame into a dark leather booth in the Caucus Room steakhouse and confronted a pressing question: W.W.H.E?

What Would Haley Eat?

Haley Barbour, the Mississippi governor and prospective Republican presidential candidate, was a founder and owner of this sanctum sanctorum of the Washington powerful. Waiters told me he favored the chopped salad — off menu, natch — and another informant indicated he preferred light liquors.

In his honor, I ordered a steak chopped salad and a bone dry Hendrick’s martini, straight up. It wasn’t yet 1 p.m., but I had something to celebrate: Barbour’s presidential prospects are rising.

The Hotline, a political tip sheet, had just come out with its “presidential power rankings,” and Barbour had jumped three spaces, to No. 3, closing in on Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty. For me, and for other Washington insiders all along the K Street corridor, this was good news indeed: Finally, one of our own has a chance to become president.

(More here.)