On the 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates for President

In a posting last week, I looked at the Democratic contenders for president in 2008. As we head into the heart of the fall campaign leading up to the caucuses and primaries, let's examine the Republican candidates.

Rudy Giuliani: He is the national frontrunner, but it is arguable whether or not that matters, since typically the nomination is sequential -- voters choose one state at a time and Iowa and New Hampshire serve as gatekeepers for the process.

Pros: he is the hero of 9/11 and no one will ever take that away from him. Terrorism is a top issue for Republicans (and close to the top for all voters) and he gives the Republicans a further edge on the issue with his record as a crime buster and security consultant. He has experience as the successful chief executive of the country's third largest government and has been successful in business. Republicans like strong leaders and voters overall have told us that the chief characteristic they are looking for in the next president is a "competent manager."

Cons: like Hillary Clinton, he is a lightening rod and has made a lot of enemies, especially liberals and minorities (who are not going to vote for him anyway, but can make a lot of noise). He also has serious family issues. Many Americans come from dysfunctional families, but most of them don't run for president. Then there is the problem best described in the famous words Cary Grant never spoke: "Judy, Judy, Judy." Judy Nathan Giuliani makes Teresa Heinz Kerry look like Ruth from the Old Testament.

Fred Thompson: He has finally announced and has received a bounce in the polls.

Pros: he has an impressive resume, comes from a good state, and is very tall (see John Kerry). He also has some leading Bush consultants working for him.

Cons: be careful of the Ronald Reagan comparisons (like all of those "Kennedy-esque" wannabes over the years, you lose when you try to compare yourself with an icon). He has a very dull campaign speech, has given little thought to a platform for running (he says he is "for small government." What Republican ever runs on a Big Government platform?) He has fallen short on fundraising. He has sold the sizzle well so far, but watch for the "Freddie Fizzle."

Mitt Romney: He has huge leads in Iowa and New Hampshire. Should he win both states, can he be stopped?

Pros: he has been the successful governor of a Democratic state and in addition to being a "competent manager" he possesses the second ranking quality voters are looking for: an "ability to work with the other side of the aisle." He can claim three states as home - Utah, Michigan, and Massachusetts - and has plenty of money with more to follow. And he is straight from central casting with good looks and a photogenic wife and family.

Cons: he has flip-flopped pretty dramatically on key conservative issues and is a Mormon, which can hurt him among Christian conservatives. But if Hillary Clinton is nominated, it is hard to imagine even very demoralized conservatives not voting for him.

John McCain: He is down but not out.

Pros: he has that great biography and the respect of many Americans. He is at his best when he is the scrappy maverick and he has experience (especially military and legislative).

Cons: he owns the surge strategy in Iraq and there may be some evidence that it can help him climb back into the upper tier in the early primaries, but it will hurt him in a general election. He also has a serious lack of money and his age and health may indeed be factors. He has problems with the party's base, especially on the immigration issue.

Mike Huckabee: The former governor of Arkansas he is gaining a reputation for his affability and decency.

Pros: he is a popular born-again Christian and a solid conservative. He is an ordained Baptist preacher and is this year's version of the Democrat's favorite Republican. He has been a successful governor of a swing state, has had the best one-liners from the debates, and his loss of one hundred pounds makes him a role model for many struggling Americans.

Cons: he has no money, though he is starting to joke about it. But he will have a tough road if he doesn't win Iowa. (Hint: think vice-president, especially if Rudy or Romney wins the nomination).

Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback: I don't get it. There is a competition to be Great Conservative Hope in the GOP nomination race, and while these guys are trying, they aren't winning. Tancredo will kick up a little dust on immigration, but not enough to make a difference.

Ron Paul: He is the libertarian with a strong Internet following. He is also the only anti-war candidate. He may get some votes but never enough to move up enough.

Newt Gingrich: He could be the conservatives' candidate and, like Al Gore, can afford to wait because he has the name recognition, the ability to raise money, and the ability to frame issues. If undecided voters among Republicans remain high and/or if one of the leaders implodes, Newt could get in.

Comments

[robotfog]

Except for Ron Paul, all of the candidates smell. McCain could have been a contender and probably deserves to be, but he should have had the good sense to slap Bush in the face at the 1st swearing in ceremony and then leave his stinky party. McCain could have trounced both of the baboons, Bush & Kerry in '04.

It's just not the same when a guy considered to have personal integrity just throws it all away.

[klondiker]

Fred Thompson has an impressive resume???? Since when? Tell you what, if we're looking to get an extra for CSI, we'll give him a call.

The real choice for Republicans is between:

1. A flip-flopper from Massachusetts.

2. A pro-abortion, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control, thrice-married New Yorker.

HAHAHA...ain't Karma a bitch!

[net50]

Newt Gingrich has the best chance to win the southern states because so many people in the south haven't made up their minds. Possibly, if he were ready to jump in, he could even handedly take all of the Republican votes in the USA because the "right" doesn't like the double talk from the current forerunners. Also, the "christians" in the party do not endorse the stance of the forerunners as a conflict of interest in their beliefs. Even then, Newt Gingrich has one factor that will leave some "christians" out of his circle.
The immigration issue will take down any person with the southern voters because those states do not wish to participate with the immigrants as do some states with a heavy farming presence. Both legal and illegal immigrants are finding it harder to blend in with communities who have not ever had a Latina or Hispanic population and resent them being in the southern states. However, states who support the illegal and legal immigrants should let the migrants know where to locate because it could be a real pit fall in the upcoming election if southern voters do not see an honest attempt from the Congress and the Federal Government to pass serious laws and enforce current laws to stop employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Until the jobs dry up and the elected realize that Americans are serious about defending our country from the massive invasion that is taking place in every state, then they won't find a real solid base in the south to elect them into the next term.
Even the young twenties group are angry because they realize that they will be stuck holding the bag for the old folks medical cost and the low income immigrants who rely on federal and state social programs, which America's youth will pay taxes for. Students have the ability now to take this next election into their own hands, mostly to defend their own future and what they will be working for.

[momilitia]

I see in the banner "Fundrace 2008" Eric Trump, this no doubt is the son of the infamous Donald the Seeker of Celebrity, Trump. Now honestly who really gives a S**T what any Trump thinks or cares about, especially in the venue of politics? They are nothing but trailer trash in search of social vindication.

[net50]

Trump got one thing right, Conde Rice does just fly over and wave. She hasn't done anything that brought our country one single step back towards sanity.

[FOXYLADY]

KUCINICH IS STARTING TO SOUND BETTER TO ME ALL OF THE TIME......AND WITH HILLARY YOU GET A "TWO FER" AND I LIKE BILL EVEN WITH HIS JOBS. AND MANY DON'T THINK "ORAL SEX" IS INTERCOURS­E.......JU­ST ASK THEM###

[momilitia]

Plan and simple, if you want real change and just plan "real", vote Kucinich. He is the only one not on the take.

[Maezeppa]

Oral sex ISN'T intercourse.

[FOXYLADY]

ALL I CAN SAY IS "THEY AIN'T LOOKING SO GOOD"! THEY ARE TOO BUSY ACCUSING THE DEMOCRATES OF THE VERY SAME THINGS THEY DID DURING THEIR EARLIER CAMPAIGNS...FORGET THE LATEST ONE AGAINST THE GENERAL PETAROS...THEY SAID MUCH WORSE IN THE LAST TWO CAMPAIGNS AGAINST MANY "DEMOCRATIC WAR VETERANS" AND THEY WERE ALL LIES...........I DO BELIEVE THAT MCCAIN IS THE ONLY VETERAN AMONGST THEM AND HE TURNED MANY AGAINST HIM WITH HIS ATTITUDE ON THIS TRUMPED UP WAR AND HIS "CLOSENESS TO BUSH" AT TIMES.........HE DISAPPOINTED ME AND I WOULD HAVE (AWHILE BACK) VOTED FOR HIM AND I AM AN INDEPENDENT AND HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES.

[fmoramar]

These GOP contenders are a very sorry bunch. Most of them self-destruct every time they open their mouths. I have a feeling Newt is going to enter the fray right after the first primaries make it clear that "none of the above" is the party's real choice.

[dyannne]

...and there are no cons for Newt? If he's the backup plan, the pugs have hit their waterloo.

[net50]

It is sad isn't it?

[frank67]

If the Thugs somehow win, I am moving to Canada!

[nolalily]

Serious family issues happen in a vacuum. They don't effect anyone and aren't caused by anything. Right?

Right?

[franknstein]

It would be truley amazinging if this country would elect as president a member of the party that has helped put this counry in the shape that it is now in! All but one wants the war in Iraq to go on and on while the country does not.No real desire to change health care unless the corps are involved. How dumb would we be if we elect another Republican that thinks like Bush? Which way to Canada?

[mick3]

Huckabee's only drawback is that he hasn't any money? Give me a break.

[luziannagirl]

Core Republican voters will get behind whomever their religious leaders tell them to, and, quite a few swing voters will follow. Guiliani, a much-divorced Yankee, Romney, a Mormon, doesn't matter.

Why?

It has nothing to do with facts, or a candidate's personal background, history of sexual or moral transgressions, or even whether they are Christian (or the right kind of Christian) or not.

And it sure the hell has nothing to do with issues.

It has to with going to Hell vs Heaven when they die.

Oh, yeah, I'm serious.

God works in mysterious ways. He can even use a non-Christian to achieve His purposes if He chooses to do so.

If non-Republicans want to win this election, they better start beating the buses for those intellectual, aloof, apathetic fiddle-whi­le-Rome-bu­rns I'm-too-se­xy-to-get-­my-hands-d­irty-in-po­litics-non­-voters. Heck, bribe them with a free copy of "On the Road" or a six-pack of Belgian beer or something.

You won't convince the Bible-beaters to change their minds short of a mass brain transplant.

[Kendo Nagasaki]

Voting Republican means never ending war.

The pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants is to join the US army.

Kill two birds with one stone.

[Kendo Nagasaki]

Think an atheist stands any chance of being elected President of the US?

He would be nailed to a cross.

[Kendo Nagasaki]

Republicans would rather spend another $200 billion on Iraq than $10 billion on child health care.

Vote for the party of Death after birth.

[nolalily]

Not to mention let Americans and the city they live in die.