Yericko Nyerere
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 16,987
- 20,271
Potential 2012 Republican candidates
President Barack Obama has officially launched his campaign for re-election in 2012 and has begun raising money in earnest. Meanwhile, the Republican field has begun to take shape, with some candidates announcing formal bids for the presidency, others forming committees allowing them to start raising money, and a handful ruling themselves out of the race.
Here are some of the Republican contenders:
Newt Gingrich
Mr Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, announced he was running against Mr Obama in 2012 on YouTube, Twitter, and in an interview on Fox News.
?
Since he left office 12 years ago, Mr Gingrich has build a broad network of conservative businesses and non-profit organisations, generating films, books and position papers, and has sought to align himself as an elder statesman and a creative source of conservative policy ideas.
He remains widely respected in the party for leading congressional Republicans out of 40 years in opposition in 1994, although he lost the speaker's gavel in 1998 after the party took significant losses.
Mr Gingrich comes to the race with more than a few handicaps. He can be both inflammatory and irascible - qualities Americans do not tend to see as presidential - and has a long record of undiplomatic quotes.
His three marriages may also haunt him in a 2012 campaign.
His first wife has accused him of divorcing her while she was in hospital recovering from cancer.
Mr Gingrich was having an affair with a staffer (whom he later married) while he was leading the charge to impeach former President Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Tim Pawlenty
The former governor of Minnesota announced his candidacy for president in May.
?
Speculation about his bid had been rife since he declined to seek re-election as governor in 2010. He made it on to John McCain's shortlist for vice-president in 2008, but was trumped by Sarah Palin.
Mr Pawlenty has been touting his blue collar roots and tells Republicans he pushed Minnesota, a relatively liberal state, toward the right during his two terms as governor.
His biggest struggle right now is his lack of name recognition and star power in a field that includes former presidential candidates and media-magnet Sarah Palin.
But he is a conservative and a Christian with a solid political resume - all assets that help make him a real contender.
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney, the wealthy former governor of Massachusetts, was the second major candidate to launch an exploratory committee, after Mr Pawlenty, a move that allows him to begin raising money.
?
He enters the fray as the presumed front-runner, placing at or near the top in early polling.
Mr Romney, son of former Michigan Governor George Romney, made his first bid for the presidency in 2008, after earning a fortune in corporate strategy and private equity.
But his considerable resources were not enough to overcome inconsistent messages and policy shifts.
Mr Romney seems to have learned lessons from 2008, and is casting himself as a serious grown-up in a Republican Party characterised in the 2010 mid-term elections by grassroots anger.
He has cautiously courted important political figures in key early primary states, including South Carolina and New Hampshire, the state he now calls home.
Those who say they aren't running
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said his wife did not want him to run
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour would have faced questions about his career as a lobbyist and about race relations
He has raised money for many congressional and gubernatorial candidates - earning him much goodwill in the party - and has developed a reputation for being hard-working and loyal.
South Dakota Senator John Thune cited the difficulty of raising enough money to compete against Mr Obama
Mr Romney chooses his public appearances judiciously, remarking only on issues of national importance, like Afghanistan, while shying away from partisan in-fighting.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of George W Bush, would face the electorate's Bush fatigue but has not ruled out a 2016 run
Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, an influential conservative, may run for governor
His financial expertise and impressive economic record in private industry, particularly in turning around troubled businesses, could be an asset if the economy continues to be the dominant issue in 2012.
After a long flirtation with a bid New York businessman Donald Trump said his heart lay in the private sector
Baptist minister, broadcaster and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee indicated he did not have God's "full blessing" for a run
But Mr Romney has several hurdles to overcome, notably his moderate record as governor of the generally liberal state of Massachusetts, which does not sit well with conservative primary voters.
In particular, Mr Romney's reform of the Massachusetts healthcare system - an overhaul that looks remarkably similar to the one President Barack Obama signed in 2010 in the face of united Republican opposition - has already proven a liability.
One of Mr Romney's first policy speeches of the 2012 campaign was devoted to explaining that although he believed the overhaul was right for Massachusetts, he would repeal it on a national level if elected president.
Mr Romney's Mormon roots could also present an issue, as the Republican primary contests in Iowa and South Carolina tend to be dominated by evangelical Christian conservatives who may be uncomfortable with his faith.
Sarah Palin
The former Alaska governor and running mate of 2008 Republican nominee Senator John McCain is a household name in the US.
?
But she's also a polarising figure - fiercely beloved and guarded by a shrinking core of Republican voters, loathed by Democrats, and an object of continuing fascination to the US political press.
Mrs Palin has several real advantages in this field - she's a fundraising juggernaut, she draws huge crowds, and her every move arouses media attention.
She's also adept at circumventing the media, sending messages to supporters via Facebook, where she has almost 3 million fans, or to her nearly half a million Twitter followers.
No other Republican has her social media reach.
Unlike her peers, Mrs Palin has not been making the pilgrimages to the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire - long-held traditions for presidential candidates.
With her name recognition and social media base, she might not have to play by the usual rules.
But Mrs Palin has a credibility problem with mainstream Republican primary voters.
She did not finish her first term as Alaska's governor, and since leaving office has starred in a reality TV show.
Many Republicans, even those who support her, question whether she is serious about running the country and tackling America's problems, or whether she is more interested in building her celebrity brand.
Ron Paul
The Texas congressman has won a devoted following among libertarian-minded Republicans with his calls for a return to the gold standard, the abolition of the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service, and his staunch opposition - unusual in the Republican Party - to the war in Iraq and to American militarism in general.
?
Supporters of Mr Paul, an obstetrician, gained a reputation during the 2008 race for their enthusiasm for the candidate - as well as for their practice of disrupting rival candidates' rallies and press conferences.
Some of his backers also became known for espousing far-out conspiracy theories, such as the suggestion the US government was behind the 11 September 2001 terror attacks, tainting his movement in the eyes of the mainstream Republican electorate.
Mr Paul, 75, announced his candidacy in May in remarks that mixed anti-war cries with arguments for the legalisation of heroin and the end of federal flood and disaster insurance programmes.
He will bring to the race a legion of devoted followers who can organise and raise funds.
But to his detractors, Mr Paul is too eccentric and his ideas too fringe for them to take him seriously as a presidential hopeful.
Other names to watch
Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China under Mr Obama and, before that, governor of Utah, has launched a political action committee that will allow him to raise money and hire a staff. That he spent two years working for Mr Obama is certain to turn off some within the party's hard conservative primary electorate, as is his reputation as a political moderate.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has set up a presidential exploratory committee, an initial step toward a presidential run. He hopes to capitalise on his solid social conservative credentials. But he last appeared on the ballot in 2006, when lost his re-election bid by 17 points, suggesting his political career has run out of momentum.
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a favourite of the Tea Party, is an outspoken conservative who has been spending time in the early primary states. The fiery Ms Bachmann has a small core of staunch support. But, at this stage, her appeal isn't broad enough for her to be a serious contender.
Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, is gaining a reputation as a politician who sticks to his promises. But he also marches to his own beat on issues like the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, and it is unclear how Republican primary voters would react to him. He's ruled out running multiple times, but that hasn't stopped Republicans and reporters from asking him about a bid.
Gary Johnson, who participated in the first Republican debate of the 2012 campaign, was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2002. In addition to scaling Mount Everest, Mr Johnson has gained attention for his support for legalising marijuana.
Herman Cain, the former CEO of a pizza chain, entered the race formally in May. But has no
President Barack Obama has officially launched his campaign for re-election in 2012 and has begun raising money in earnest. Meanwhile, the Republican field has begun to take shape, with some candidates announcing formal bids for the presidency, others forming committees allowing them to start raising money, and a handful ruling themselves out of the race.
Here are some of the Republican contenders:
Newt Gingrich
Mr Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, announced he was running against Mr Obama in 2012 on YouTube, Twitter, and in an interview on Fox News.
?
Since he left office 12 years ago, Mr Gingrich has build a broad network of conservative businesses and non-profit organisations, generating films, books and position papers, and has sought to align himself as an elder statesman and a creative source of conservative policy ideas.
He remains widely respected in the party for leading congressional Republicans out of 40 years in opposition in 1994, although he lost the speaker's gavel in 1998 after the party took significant losses.
Mr Gingrich comes to the race with more than a few handicaps. He can be both inflammatory and irascible - qualities Americans do not tend to see as presidential - and has a long record of undiplomatic quotes.
His three marriages may also haunt him in a 2012 campaign.
His first wife has accused him of divorcing her while she was in hospital recovering from cancer.
Mr Gingrich was having an affair with a staffer (whom he later married) while he was leading the charge to impeach former President Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Tim Pawlenty
The former governor of Minnesota announced his candidacy for president in May.
?
Speculation about his bid had been rife since he declined to seek re-election as governor in 2010. He made it on to John McCain's shortlist for vice-president in 2008, but was trumped by Sarah Palin.
Mr Pawlenty has been touting his blue collar roots and tells Republicans he pushed Minnesota, a relatively liberal state, toward the right during his two terms as governor.
His biggest struggle right now is his lack of name recognition and star power in a field that includes former presidential candidates and media-magnet Sarah Palin.
But he is a conservative and a Christian with a solid political resume - all assets that help make him a real contender.
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney, the wealthy former governor of Massachusetts, was the second major candidate to launch an exploratory committee, after Mr Pawlenty, a move that allows him to begin raising money.
?
He enters the fray as the presumed front-runner, placing at or near the top in early polling.
Mr Romney, son of former Michigan Governor George Romney, made his first bid for the presidency in 2008, after earning a fortune in corporate strategy and private equity.
But his considerable resources were not enough to overcome inconsistent messages and policy shifts.
Mr Romney seems to have learned lessons from 2008, and is casting himself as a serious grown-up in a Republican Party characterised in the 2010 mid-term elections by grassroots anger.
He has cautiously courted important political figures in key early primary states, including South Carolina and New Hampshire, the state he now calls home.
Those who say they aren't running
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said his wife did not want him to run
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour would have faced questions about his career as a lobbyist and about race relations
He has raised money for many congressional and gubernatorial candidates - earning him much goodwill in the party - and has developed a reputation for being hard-working and loyal.
South Dakota Senator John Thune cited the difficulty of raising enough money to compete against Mr Obama
Mr Romney chooses his public appearances judiciously, remarking only on issues of national importance, like Afghanistan, while shying away from partisan in-fighting.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of George W Bush, would face the electorate's Bush fatigue but has not ruled out a 2016 run
Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, an influential conservative, may run for governor
His financial expertise and impressive economic record in private industry, particularly in turning around troubled businesses, could be an asset if the economy continues to be the dominant issue in 2012.
After a long flirtation with a bid New York businessman Donald Trump said his heart lay in the private sector
Baptist minister, broadcaster and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee indicated he did not have God's "full blessing" for a run
But Mr Romney has several hurdles to overcome, notably his moderate record as governor of the generally liberal state of Massachusetts, which does not sit well with conservative primary voters.
In particular, Mr Romney's reform of the Massachusetts healthcare system - an overhaul that looks remarkably similar to the one President Barack Obama signed in 2010 in the face of united Republican opposition - has already proven a liability.
One of Mr Romney's first policy speeches of the 2012 campaign was devoted to explaining that although he believed the overhaul was right for Massachusetts, he would repeal it on a national level if elected president.
Mr Romney's Mormon roots could also present an issue, as the Republican primary contests in Iowa and South Carolina tend to be dominated by evangelical Christian conservatives who may be uncomfortable with his faith.
Sarah Palin
The former Alaska governor and running mate of 2008 Republican nominee Senator John McCain is a household name in the US.
?
But she's also a polarising figure - fiercely beloved and guarded by a shrinking core of Republican voters, loathed by Democrats, and an object of continuing fascination to the US political press.
Mrs Palin has several real advantages in this field - she's a fundraising juggernaut, she draws huge crowds, and her every move arouses media attention.
She's also adept at circumventing the media, sending messages to supporters via Facebook, where she has almost 3 million fans, or to her nearly half a million Twitter followers.
No other Republican has her social media reach.
Unlike her peers, Mrs Palin has not been making the pilgrimages to the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire - long-held traditions for presidential candidates.
With her name recognition and social media base, she might not have to play by the usual rules.
But Mrs Palin has a credibility problem with mainstream Republican primary voters.
She did not finish her first term as Alaska's governor, and since leaving office has starred in a reality TV show.
Many Republicans, even those who support her, question whether she is serious about running the country and tackling America's problems, or whether she is more interested in building her celebrity brand.
Ron Paul
The Texas congressman has won a devoted following among libertarian-minded Republicans with his calls for a return to the gold standard, the abolition of the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service, and his staunch opposition - unusual in the Republican Party - to the war in Iraq and to American militarism in general.
?
Supporters of Mr Paul, an obstetrician, gained a reputation during the 2008 race for their enthusiasm for the candidate - as well as for their practice of disrupting rival candidates' rallies and press conferences.
Some of his backers also became known for espousing far-out conspiracy theories, such as the suggestion the US government was behind the 11 September 2001 terror attacks, tainting his movement in the eyes of the mainstream Republican electorate.
Mr Paul, 75, announced his candidacy in May in remarks that mixed anti-war cries with arguments for the legalisation of heroin and the end of federal flood and disaster insurance programmes.
He will bring to the race a legion of devoted followers who can organise and raise funds.
But to his detractors, Mr Paul is too eccentric and his ideas too fringe for them to take him seriously as a presidential hopeful.
Other names to watch
Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China under Mr Obama and, before that, governor of Utah, has launched a political action committee that will allow him to raise money and hire a staff. That he spent two years working for Mr Obama is certain to turn off some within the party's hard conservative primary electorate, as is his reputation as a political moderate.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has set up a presidential exploratory committee, an initial step toward a presidential run. He hopes to capitalise on his solid social conservative credentials. But he last appeared on the ballot in 2006, when lost his re-election bid by 17 points, suggesting his political career has run out of momentum.
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a favourite of the Tea Party, is an outspoken conservative who has been spending time in the early primary states. The fiery Ms Bachmann has a small core of staunch support. But, at this stage, her appeal isn't broad enough for her to be a serious contender.
Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, is gaining a reputation as a politician who sticks to his promises. But he also marches to his own beat on issues like the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, and it is unclear how Republican primary voters would react to him. He's ruled out running multiple times, but that hasn't stopped Republicans and reporters from asking him about a bid.
Gary Johnson, who participated in the first Republican debate of the 2012 campaign, was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2002. In addition to scaling Mount Everest, Mr Johnson has gained attention for his support for legalising marijuana.
Herman Cain, the former CEO of a pizza chain, entered the race formally in May. But has no
