First it was Mike Huckabee, then it was Donald Trump and now it’s Newt Gingrich…out of the Republican presidential race. Well let me clarify myself here. Huckabee and Trump chose to bow out but I think Gingrich unintentionally took himself out of the race.

The real stuff of what makes an election exciting hasn’t even begun, yet already we are seeing things heat up. And it’s bound to only get hotter.

First, I was quite surprised by former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee’s decision to not seek a 2012 nomination. In fact, I was dumbfounded. While he said that everything seemed to be in place, his heart was telling him no. I guess sometimes that is all we have to go with, what is in our heart. I respect his decision but I was personally looking forward to what he might have added to the race.

Then it should come as no surprise but Donald Trump announced earlier this week that he too was not going to run. What was he blowing all that hot air for? I think it was self-seeking attention he was after and a boost in his ratings for “Celebrity Apprentice.”

I think he truly meant the things he said, don’t get me wrong. But I think he was in this for all the wrong reasons. And I will admit that I was actually looking forward to the excitement he would have added to the race as well.

But now we have Newt Gingrich, who has just barely thrown his hat into the race and already he has made a huge mistake that could potentially cost him any possibility of winning.

Gingrich spoke against Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan, which has infuriated many a Republican. While in Iowa on May 16th he was chastised by others for what he did. I really think he did more than just shoot himself in the foot. I might be wrong as there is still plenty of time left but he definitely didn’t start off the race very well.

He has now declared that he will watch what he says from now on in. But I think the damage has been done. So with these three out (intentionally or not), what does that mean for other potential contenders? Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty may have just increased their possibilities. And it’s sounding more and more likely that Michele Bachmann will also decide to run. I think she feels like she has more leverage now with the “bigger” names out of the picture.

We are still waiting to find out however, what Sarah Palin plans to do. I personally think she is strategizing all of this. She is waiting to see who is in and who is out before she makes her final decision.

Needless to say, things have definitely been shaken up a bit. At this point almost anyone could come in and steal the show. We will just have to keep an eye out on what is next for the Republican Party.