@jacquiekubinJacquie Kubin
Handicapping presidential candidates #HermanCain, #MittRomney, #RonPaul, #NewtGingrich, #RickPerry wtim.es/uKW2KX@wtcommunities #twt
Handicapping the GOP presidential candidates: Cain, Romney, Paul, Gingrich, Perry
Photo: Associated Press
FOLLOW US ON
FACEBOOK
SALT LAKE CITY, November 2, 2012–In two months' time, Iowans will kick off the national process to choose a candidate to face off against President Obama.
Republican voters have a lot to consider, like who is best suited to fix the American economy, which set of policy proposals will keep us safest, who inspires them, and which candidate gives the GOP the best shot at retaking the White House.
Here is a how each of the top five contestants (according to the Real Clear Politics poll averages) answers those questions, and how Republicans might assess each's position in the race.
Herman Cain
Strengths: The man in plain likeable, despite the recent sexual harassment charges. Even his creepy smile in the infamous smoker ad is oddly endearing. The fact that he seems to scoff at all convention helps him because he comes across as genuine, humble, and insurgent.
Weaknesses: His slip-ups are well-documented, and he is shaky on policy specifics, particularly in the foreign policy realm.
How he matches up against Obama: The GOP frontrunner (can anyone imagine we'd be saying that back in May or June?) would shine like a old-fashioned incandescent light bulb against the divisive, cynical pessimistic Obama. Looking at two Black Americans, voters would be given the option of entrusting the United States to a lawyer/academic again, or a mathematician/businessman. He could easily peel away significant African-American votes from the president, but might stumble in debates.
Mitt Romney
Strengths: The former Massachusetts governor is smooth and polished, performs well in debates, and has a command of information in nearly every single policy area. He is a disciplined campaigner and an effective fundraiser. He has been vetted and probably has no skeletons in his closet.
Weaknesses: Romney scares Tea Partier-types. Notably, the health care plan he championed in Massachusetts is too much like Obamacare to give him credibility to fight the federal law. He might not be able to distance himself on that (or TARP) from the president enough to energize the base.
How he matches up against Obama: Despite the policy similarities between Romneycare and Obamacare, Mitt would highlight the key differences by appealing to the Constitution and the proper scope of the federal government, which would put the president on the defensive. Romney would appeal to the millions of independents who helped elect Obama in 2008.
Rick Perry
Strengths: He is honest and plainspoken, with an impressive record governing the second largest state. His executive experience is unmatched in the field, and his promise to make Washington as inconsequential in voters' lives as possible resonates with the GOP base.
Weaknesses: His debate performances are less than stellar, and he has trouble getting really specific on some policies, and staying on message.
How he matches up against Obama: He would appeal to voters in must-win states like Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and Colorado. He would put Obama in an indefensible position on energy regulations, oil development, and job creation.
Newt Gingrich
Strengths: The former House speaker is a fact machine, and unafraid of attacking the media and the administration in an uncompromising, legitimate way that really pumps up conservatives. His anger is a righteous one, and he has an encyclopedia of policy solutions and an unmatched understanding of history and American government to back it up.
Weaknesses: Newt is kind of curmudgeony, and his image as Clinton foe might hurt him with independents.
How he matches up against Obama: Conservatives would pay a pretty penny to see Newt's proposed seven Lincoln-Douglas debates with Obama. His spot on diagnoses of what ails America and specific ideas about how to fix it would really flummox the president, who is used to filibustering on soft-ball questions from the liberal press.
Ron Paul
Strengths: He wants to cut a trillion dollars from the budget now. The guts that takes is inspiring. He is also a highly likeable fellow who is remarkably consistent for a politician with as much time in elected office as he has.
Weaknesses: Paul's foreign policy stances are troubling to a large slice of the GOP base, and he isn't exactly a commanding presence, an important consideration in the media driven campaign.
How he matches up against Obama: Paul is so singularly focused on the Constitution and limited government that he's change the dynamic of the campaign and debates. His appeal to younger left-leaning and libertarian voters would throw a traditional campaign into chaos for the president. But Obama looks superficially impressive– youthful, energetic, and charismatic– against the Texas congressman.
The list might change in the next 60 days, and will certainly begin to whittle itself down thereafter. In the meantime, Republican voters themselves will have plenty of time to evaluate.
And for the candidates–time is ticking.
