All things being equal, Barack Obama would be the Democratic candidate for the 2012 election.

The real race is who would be the GOP candidate to challenge him for the White House among the candidates

We have currently in the race

Former Massachussets Governor Mitt Romney,
Current Texas Governor Rick Perry,
Senator Ron Paul
Businessman Herman Cain,
Senator Rick Santorum,
Speaker Newt Gingrich,
Congresswoman Micchelle Bachmann


Who do you think would challenge Barack obama for the post among them

Mitt for sure and he will kick Obama's azz.

@aloy/emeka,

Mitt for sure and he will kick Obama's azz.

Don't be too sure. If you notice, Romney's numbers have remained in about the same spot in all polling data, even though other candidates have been going up and down. In my opinion, Romney has his base that hasn't shifted and the stagnation suggests he isn't changing other minds to support him.

While I do not know who I will support, I know who I will not support in the republican primary - Romney. I believe this sentiment is shared by many in the Republican Party. So if other candidates fall by the way side, it is safe to assume their supporters will gravitate towards another candidate besides Romney. If the process works fast and many quit early to leave Romney and another aspirant in the game, the odds are Romney will be beaten hands down because the other candidate will likely win the support of the followers of those who are no longer running.

And yes, any one of those aspirants will beat Obama hands down!

Most of the candidates hand to much credibility issues that they cant even be trusted by the republican base.

Rick Perry has been said to once defended the confederate flag

http://blog.chron.com/rickperry/2011/10/rick-perry-once-defended-confederate-symbols/

On the issue of immigration: Granted in state tuition to Illegal immigrants while someone from Luosiana for example paid out of state tuition

Having the hunting ground named Nigger head

Also having school girls mandated to be given HPV vaccine

Herman Cain

Seemed very confused.

On ABortion he claimed he is Pro life and also said the family should be allowed to make a choice on whether to keep the baby or not.

Foreign affairs He was once quoted to have said he would be willing to exchange one US soldier for all the inmates at Guantanamo Bay the next day he says he wont negotiate with terrorists in any way

Newt Gingrich

Talks more in circles and barely addresses key issues

I almost forgot about Ron Paul

Rick Perry has been sliding down the pools

And this week he added voice to the "Birthers" claim
. Saying he is not sure Obama was born is the US.

Thats a low one from Rick Perry

Mitt Romney had been static in the polls. Though recently he was endorsed by the American truckers association

It is said that Romney has 25% of his campaign funds from Wall street donors

Latest polls show Mitt Romney leading in Iowa, New Hampshire and florida with Hermann Cain in second position

Rick Perry was quoted to have said he might stop attending debates this might be due to his poor debate performance

dayokanu:

Rick Perry was quoted to have said he might stop attending debates this might be due to his poor debate performance

How can he possibly stand against Obama if he can't debate? We will know how good any of them is when the real thing starts, at the moment Obama is waiting to see who crosses over for the battle.

I wish Rick Perry wins the GOP race so he can easily be picked apart by Barack Obama

He is soo uncouth that Romney was just tossing him around in the nevada debates

But Romney would be a tough one for Obama.

He would draw independents to him and also he is Ivy league trained just like Obama and has already been in the race before soo all the exposables has been exposed already

On Monday, Rick Perry said he wasn't sure if Obama was born in America

dayokanu:

On Monday, Rick Perry said he wasn't sure if Obama was born in America

This is another Donald Trump

On Tuesday

he said he was joking about the case of Obama

dayokanu:

On Tuesday

he said he was joking about the case of Obama

They all playing into Obama's hand, i can imagine Obama keeping record of political arsenal about everyone of them waiting for them to cross over.

On Wednesday he said he is now certain Obama was born in America.

I know perry wont be any form of threat to Obama, I am more worried about Mitt Romney

He is very Polished His dad was a governor,
He had the best upbringing,
Went to harvard law and Business school,
Excelled in business,
Was massachusetts state governor
He is seen as a moderate who can appeal to independents
He is doing well in debates and polls

Thats Obamas greatest threat right there

dayokanu:

On Wednesday he said he is now certain Obama was born in America.

I know perry wont be any form of threat to Obama, I am more worried about Mitt Romney

He is very Polished His dad was a governor,
He had the best upbringing,
Went to harvard law and Business school,
Excelled in business,
Was massachusetts state governor
He is seen as a moderate who can appeal to independents
He is doing well in debates and polls

Thats Obamas greatest threat right there

The only thing that will count against Obama is the 9% unemployment figure but the Tea party and the [b]N[/b]o party will take the blame as well, not just Obama alone.

The economic frustration of many Americans might be visited on the president.

Some just want anyone but Obama Thats the tea party which makes a large number of the GOP

dayokanu:

The economic frustration of many Americans might be visited on the president.

Some just want anyone but Obama Thats the tea party which makes a large number of the GOP

That is my fear as well, hope the economy improves soon

Tayo-D:

And yes, any one of those aspirants will beat Obama hands down!

Erhm Uncle Tayo, you sure so?

In a general election I certainly do not see Perry, Bachmann or Cain winning over Obama - as wounded as he is. Especially the first two. They will be a darn near impossible sell to Independents and I for one am not impressed by them. Cain is a bit different because he's not a part of the 'establishment' and voters always like that. If its Cain vs Obama, I can see uncle Herman gathering enough steam through his popularity to make it very interesting - more than Perry or Bachmann ever could.

Romney will be the nominee - as unfortunate as that is. He is the one with the best chance to beat Obama and republicans will not want to take a chance and play chess or is it poker? I know a sizeable portion of the right wing (like urself) do not like Romney - but guess what - they dislike Obama by 1000times more. They (tea partiers mostly) may not be flashing as big and as an enthusiastic a smile while they're in the polling booth -

but they will still go and cast the ballot for the republican candidate.

dayokanu:

The economic frustration of many Americans might be visited on the president.

Some just want anyone but Obama Thats the tea party which makes a large number of the GOP

As well it should. The buck stops with him, whether things are good or bad, he is the one we should look to to praise or blame. He made many lofty promises that he has failed to live up to. In any properly functioning democracy the voters must hold the leader accountable lest they become complacent and take the people that put him there for granted.

Anyways, I saw a quote few weeks ago that is now one of my top 10 quotes of all time:

"Diapers & Politicians Should Be Changed Often, Both For The Same Reason"  I learned Mark Twain was responsible for the original quote.

In my own estimation

Very few of them are presidential

Maybe Romney and Santorum

Perry is the worst, Bachmann is a joke, Anyone with Tea party affiliations would be a hard sell to independents

Romney has everything to rival Obama and give him a good run, He has the poise, He has the money, He has the experience, he isnt an extremist

Only snag - He is a mormon, Would the core Evangelicals vote a Mormon?

Perrys and his supporters already called Mormons a CULT

I heard there would e a debate in Alabama between Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich

dayokanu:

In my own estimation

Very few of them are presidential

Maybe Romney and Santorum

Perry is the worst, Bachmann is a joke, Anyone with Tea party affiliations would be a hard sell to independents

Romney has everything to rival Obama and give him a good run, He has the poise, He has the money, He has the experience, he isnt an extremist

Only snag - He is a mormon, Would the core Evangelicals vote a Mormon?

Perrys and his supporters already called Mormons a CULT

I have to agree with you. Romney is the only Republican that can beat Obama at the polls. With unemployment at 9.1%, I don't think many Americans will care whether he is a Mormon or not. Same way they didn't care that Obama was a black man when they wanted to get rid of the Republicans.

But the key question remains, will the Republicans select Romney? Or will they self-destruct again?

@JeSoul,

I see you have fallen for the same propaganda that the Leftists media are spewing.  How can anyone say that Romney, an Obama-Lite, is the clear alternative to Obama?  Independents are fleeing Obama for a reason and I can't figure out how anyone can say the hope for the RNC is to offer a candidate who offers no clear contrast to Obama.

If we follow your logic about independents, then McCain would have being president today.  The only time it appeared that McCain was gonna win was when he chose a conservative as his running mate.  Everything you've said here about Bachmann and co was repeated in higher decibels when Reagan was running for President.  Why didn't the Independents flee Reagan at that time when he was unashamedly conservative?

Bush 41, became President riding on the back of a real conservative, Reagan.  He lost the preseidency when he moved big time to the center.  Histroy tells us repeatedly, the only thing that wins the White House for the RNC is conservatism because 60% or more of americans see themselves as conservative, or conservative-leaning.  Calling for a so-called moderate is to repeat the mistake and failure exemplified by McCain.

I didn’t vote in the last election.  I couldn’t get myself to vote for McCain.  Granted, I will likely hold my nose and vote for Romney if he were the nominee, but I doubt many other conservatives will.  The best way to dampen the conservative fire right now is to choose a RINO as the Republican candidate.  Makes you understand why the media is so keen to have Romney as the Republican nominee - that's a winning strategy for Obama.

Tayo-D:

@JeSoul,

I see you have fallen for the same propaganda that the Leftists media are spewing.  How can anyone say that Romney, an Obama-Lite, is the clear alternative to Obama?  Independents are fleeing Obama for a reason and I can't figure out how anyone can say the hope for the RNC is to offer a candidate who offers no clear contrast to Obama.

Leftwing media ke? Me I dey talk my own preference lol. As an independent conservative I am particularly & thoroughly un-thrilled about Perry & Bachmann. I was even rooting for Perry when he cast his hat into the ring but his showing in the debates including some rather bizarre and strange moments has turned me off. He is not ready for a presidential run. Besides, it is not the left wing media that is calling for Romney's selection, as far as I can see, the republican 'establishment' of Rove and co do want Romney to be the candidate. Abi they self are buying MSNBC's spin? 

The only republican candidate I would be excited about voting for is Uncle Herman Cain.

If we follow your logic about independents, then McCain would have being president today.  The only time it appeared that McCain was gonna win was when he chose a conservative as his running mate.  Everything you've said here about Bachmann and co was repeated in higher decibels when Reagan was running for President.  Why didn't the Independents flee Reagan at that time when he was unashamedly conservative?

Not exactly. McCain was thoroughly unable to rile up the base and get enough people excited - I blame that on his personality first. Furthermore there is almost always a changeover in parties after 8 years - so McCain was a long shot to begin with. Add his lack luster self, a young fresh Obama and the result is what we got. 

Bush 41, became President riding on the back of a real conservative, Reagan.  He lost the preseidency when he moved big time to the center.  Histroy tells us repeatedly, the only thing that wins the White House for the RNC is conservatism because 60% or more of americans see themselves as conservative, or conservative-leaning.  Calling for a so-called moderate is to repeat the mistake and failure exemplified by McCain.

The argument isn't even so much as calling for a 'moderate' per se. But rather someone that can appeal to independents. Herman Cain is as right as the others, yet his popularity across the board is very healthy. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen any polling or analysis to suggest that any other group - other than the right conservatives - like Bachmann & Perry.

I didn’t vote in the last election.  I couldn’t get myself to vote for McCain.  Granted, I will likely hold my nose and vote for Romney if he were the nominee, but I doubt many other conservatives will.  The best way to dampen the conservative fire right now is to choose a RINO as the Republican candidate.  Makes you understand why the media is so keen to have Romney as the Republican nominee - that's a winning strategy for Obama.

Unless of course they have no other viable option - and 'conservatives' cannot win a general election by themselves. They need independents and small pockets of upset liberals. Like I mentioned before, I don't like Romney. They guy is an actor and will play whatever part necessary to get elected. Unfortunately, I have no better words for Perry or Bachmann.

Uncle Herman is my guy right now 

@JeSoul,

Leftwing media ke? Me I dey talk my own preference lol. As an independent conservative I am particularly & thoroughly un-thrilled about Perry & Bachmann.

What do you mean by an Independent Conservative? Being conservative already asserts your independence. Like I said earlier though, most independents in the US are conservative leaning. How then can one jump to the conslusion that they will break towards the socialist in the WH when they have the option to choose a conservative?

I was even rooting for Perry when he cast his hat into the ring but his showing in the debates including some rather bizarre and strange moments has turned me off. He is not ready for a presidential run.

I agree. I was expecting more from Perry but all I got was a let down.

Besides, it is not the left wing media that is calling for Romney's selection, as far as I can see, the republican 'establishment' of Rove and co do want Romney to be the candidate.

Are you surprised that a RINO is rooting for another one?

Abi they self are buying MSNBC's spin?

How esle will you explain his poiton? Same guy rooted for McCain in 2008 didn't he?

The only republican candidate I would be excited about voting for is Uncle Herman Cain.

I am more inclined to vote him too. However, I think the most solid person in that field is Newt Gingrich, and I have no dobt h has the ability, knowledge and the courage to humiliate our child-president in a debate.

@JeSoul,

Not exactly. McCain was thoroughly unable to rile up the base and get enough people excited - I blame that on his personality first. Furthermore there is almost always a changeover in parties after 8 years - so McCain was a long shot to begin with. Add his lack luster self, a young fresh Obama and the result is what we got.

No doubt the climate played a part. However, the addition of a conservative to his ticket boosted him a great deal. The bottom line about McCain is that he is a RINO and that dampens the Republican base.

The argument isn't even so much as calling for a 'moderate' per se. But rather someone that can appeal to independents. Herman Cain is as right as the others, yet his popularity across the board is very healthy. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen any polling or analysis to suggest that any other group - other than the right conservatives - like Bachmann & Perry.

What appeals to independents is the strength of your conviction. What do the independents stand for anyway? You appeal to people's reason by convincing them that what you stand for is what will benefit them. Reagan didn't go around drumming down his conservatism. He articulated them well and people realised the guy was verbalising what they feel inherently. Prior to Reagan, anyone will get away with saying: ask not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you. REagan changed that mentality and won the election not by going the Colin Powel middle ground way by saying people do not care for the size of the govt but whether the govt works for them (my paraphrase).