Big money for whoever wins.
The idea that US defense budgets will allow for a new scout helicopter in the near term is pretty preposterous. The Kiowa is averaging over 90% readiness and is dirt cheap to operate. I dont see a situation where a case can be made to make the huge investment required to proceeed with a "new" design.
I believe this announcement, along with a recent release by the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics that he wanted to maintain the industrial base by funding X-project helicopters, is just a way to stir the defense budget conversation to keep it in the foreground with looming sequestration.
Even pre-Obama, how could they realistically hope to fund CSAR-X, VXX, FVL, JSF, KCX, and a new light scout?
With an already well-performing Kiowa that can be modernized cheaply, that seems lowest on the totem poll.