Some other potential GOP contenders:

General David Petraeus: Petraeus would have made the big list had he not almost definitely ruled it out last week in an interview on CNN. Asked about whether the "door was open" for a 2012 bid, Petraeus responded, "I'll close it right here, right now. I will remind you of the great country song that used to ask 'What about no don't you understand?'" Country song or not, a year is a long time in politics and Petraeus wouldn't be the first person in history to change his mind.

Reps. Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan. All up-and-coming GOP stars who may be players at the presidential level at some point. Right now, however, all three are part of a second tier of possible candidates who realistically lack the stature, clout, and/or star power to make a run at the White House.

The problem is that the House of Representatives is simply not a big enough platform from which to launch a national bid. Only three people in history have won their party's nomination for president as a sitting member of the House. The only one to succeed in winning the presidency was James A. Garfield in 1880.

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