After a devastating Election Day for the GOP on the national front, 16 of the nation's soon-to-be 21 Republican governors gathered in Miami this week, including Gov. John Hoeven, for a little soul-searching.

The GOP's prognosis didn't seem bright, according to some state executives at the Republican Governor Association convention.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who was on Sen. John McCain's short list for running mate picks, put it this way: "We're going to need more than just a political combover," he said, according to the Associated Press.

But Hoeven offered a brighter analysis of his party's future in a Thursday phone interview, saying the GOP needs to take a "serious approach" to addressing state and national problems before the 2010 election.

"I think you always have to look at your communication and your outreach and being inclusive," Hoeven said. "I think it always begins with good solutions, good ideas and the challenges that we face."

The governors convention began with a nationally televised press conference, featuring none other than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. About a dozen of her Republican colleagues gathered on stage with her, including Hoeven, but never got a chance to speak.

GOP pollster Frank Luntz, also at the conference in Miami, had this to say, according to the AP: "The governors might be OK, but the party is in deep trouble," he said of Republicans. "The next leadership is not going to happen in Washington. It's going to happen in the states."

Mark Jendrysik, a University of North Dakota political scientist, said the internal back- biting going on in the GOP is common after any major loss in an election.

It happened to the Republicans in 1974 after President Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal. It happened again to the Democrats in 1994 when the Republicans swept them out of congressional majority.

Both parties eventually found their ways back to the seats of power.

"I think what the Republicans are going to do is find new people," Jendrysik said, adding the governors' convention in Miami is an audition for potential national candidates in 2012. "There's going to be a healthy soul-searching."

Democrats strategizing

North Dakota Democrats at their Thursday caucus meeting also were wondering why they couldn't muster a majority in the state Senate and more gains in the House in last week's election, especially in a year when the GOP brand took a national beating.

"I think we also need to start taking credit for policies that we have helped pass," said Rep. Lois Delmore, D-Grand Forks. "Republicans don't pass every bill that they take credit for without Democratic support."

Sand somewhere sandy

Republican Duane Sand called from somewhere "warm" on Thursday, a little more than a week after he lost his third bid for Congress to Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy.

"I'm on vacation trying to figure out what to do next," Sand said.

North Dakota GOP Chairman Gary Emineth said that Sand is likely to stay involved in politics.

"Duane made clear, win or lose, that he wants to stay involved in party politics," Emineth said.

Palin in N.D.?

Emineth said the North Dakota GOP is actively trying to get Palin to visit North Dakota in February.

"I think (Republican presidential ticket) kind of owes us since they didn't make it out here for the presidential campaign," he said.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com.)