Is President Obama unbeatable? With his most recent accomplishment of capturing and killing Osama Bin Laden, many people feel that he is untouchable. That may be proven true, but one other major question remains. Do the Republicans have a viable candidate that can go head to head with the President?
The 2012 Presidential Election is one that Republicans are banking on. The focus for much of the rhetoric so far has been based on the faltering economy. They have also attacked the President’s overhaul on healthcare on a consistent basis, which has led to the infamous nickname “Obamacare”. Some have even gone as far as calling it a blatant form of socialism. Economic issues have sunk previous administrations. The Republicans, being the self-proclaimed fiscally conservative party, have had loads of success with this strategy in the past. The most recent example would be the 2010 midterm elections where they took control of the House of Representatives.
The focus then falls upon the possible candidates. But first, just for fun, let’s focus on some of the candidates that have already dropped out of the running. The most notable candidate that has declined to run is Mike Huckabee. The former governor of Arkansas has a huge following within the conservative community that made him instantly a viable candidate. A major opponent of gay marriage and gun control, he announced on his self-titled Fox News talk show “Huckabee” that he would not be running. “All the factors say go, but my heart says no and that’s the decision I have made and in it I have found some resolution.” This could be viewed as a potential acknowledgement from the former governor of him not liking his chances against President Obama. Chris Christie, who the party has been clamoring for to run, has consistently denied his candidacy stating “Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running.” And last, but certainly not least, there was Donald Trump. The Donald, who had been a major advocate of seeing the President’s birth certificate, was at one point leading the polls within the Republican Party. He decided against running, stating that he was “not ready to leave the private sector”.
Heading off the list of potential candidates that are still in the running is the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. He is considered by many in the Republican Party as the front-runner for the 2012 nomination. Many also believe that Romney is the most qualified candidate to turn around the faltering economy. His involvement, however, with the overhaul of health care in Massachusetts under his regime has many fiscal conservatives questioning his credibility.
Another candidate who has come under recent criticism is former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He began his candidacy with a bang by making controversial comments on Medicare and by making what seemed to be an attack of fellow Republican Paul Ryan’s budget plan. His private life has also brought into question how feasible a candidate he could be within conservative circles.
The former governor of Minnesota and presidential candidate, Tim Pawlenty, is known for his ability to connect to the masses. Some have even gone as far to say that his appeal is similar to that of George W. Bush. He has called himself a social conservative and has the ability to gain support from a wide spectrum of Republicans. One issue, however, has been an inability to raise the proper funds. Now onto the potential sideshow that could be Sarah Palin against Michelle Bachman. Sarah Palin’s missteps have been well documented. From her TLC network show displaying her love for her home state to not being able to name her favorite newspaper to Katie Couric, Palin has become the punch line for many jokes. Bachman, however, may be making a run at the title. While making a speech in the Iowans For Tax Relief event last January, the Representative made some questionable comments involving slavery, the founding fathers and the Constitution. This can only get better as the election progresses.
Anything can happen between now and the 2012 election. But as it stands, the Republican field of candidates is not looking to be at its strongest. With Obama still standing as a beacon of hope for many, it will almost certainly take a valiant effort to defeat him. But just as in life, anything is possible in politics.
