The Republican Presidential debates are now in full swing. Nine candidates were included in this week's FOX News debate. But we all know of course, that there can only be one winner. And if nobody else joins this nomination battle, I believe that this race is now clearly heading towards a showdown between four key candidates. They are; Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum. I watched FOX and Friends yesterday, and all I can say is WOW. Some of these people... I mean seriously??? They are saying Romney and Perry won the debate, with mentions of Huntsman and Johnson. What debate were they watching??? Whatever your political persuasion, in the battle of the "frontrunners", Romney beat Perry big time last night. So much so, that I really find it hard to believe Perry can be taken seriously as a contender anymore. He may have a lot of support in Texas, and some clandestine big business backers, but COME ON - he really does suck. Even Rick Santorum had Perry at a loss for words. In fact Santorum looked like an educated, competent, passionate politician, where as Perry looked like a squirrel in the headlights. Perry is done, the longer the media keep up this line of reporting, the longer they are disrespecting even the most hardened Republican. Mitt Romney is a competent, well prepared, proven businessman and politician. He one of the media favourites also, which tends to help. He has continued to run a campaign for the White House right through from his defeat to John McCain for the Republican nomination in 2008. Romney is a smart man, and he will definitely be around til the end of this selection process. Ron Paul is definitely now separating himself from the pack. We all know his views are not the established ideology for a lot of people within the Republican Party. However, Gary Johnson and John Huntsman have added weight to many of Ron Paul's opinions over the last few debates. By these two discussing issues from a similar point of view as Paul, it adds respect to what Paul is saying, and makes it harder for the media and other candidate's to rubbish Paul. This is especially the case when many Americans have booed anything anti-war as being anti-American since 9/11. Paul's constitutional conservatism also find's a friend in Michelle Bachmann, and many within the 'Tea Party'. Michelle Bachmann is the 'Tea Party' front runner. While Ron Paul has the biggest online support of all the candidates,(as well as the most donations from active military personnel) let us not ignore the grassroots strength of the Tea Party. She has a good chunk of voters behind her, the fact that the Tea Party HOSTED a televised debate, is surely sign enough that her popularity will take her AT LEAST to the top four. And last of all is a candidate who's success a lot of you might not agree with me on. I think that Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich represent the most conservative (socially and economically) candidates in this race. However, despite Gingrich's experience and very precise answering of questions in the debates, following Santorum's surprisingly strong showing last night, I think he will manage to boost his popularity above Gingrich's. I could be wrong though. Gingrich is an intelligent, well spoken and respected candidate who would at the very least bring an intellectual element to any presidential debates with Obama. But, I don't think the establishment and the public are backing Gingrich strongly enough for him to be a frontrunner. I think Santorum will secure a good proportion of votes from those who supported Mike Huckabee last time around. As for the others? Well, Herman Cain means well. But he is not going to get into the top four or five. Huntsman and Johnson add respectability to the race. I really think Perry is a bit of a joke. He can't debate, and he just sounds like an idiot half of the time he does try to debate. Romney, Bachmann and Santorum have all landed heavy blows on Rick Perry in the last two debates. For me, the Republican Party would be idiots to select Perry as the candidate, as he has absolutely no chance of beating Barack Obama in 2012. http://theglobalcircus.blogspot.com/2011/09/gop-debates-battle-for-2012-republican.html
I make a point never to listen to what politicians say but I don't think the GOP has a candidate that can run the table. Sorry. Romney is obviously the most experienced manager of the group but he appears to be too timid to get the job done.
Polecat, strangely your not mentioning Perry, as a contender and I'd think Gingrich as a shot to win the nomination. I do like your short list, but looking at those from a National level and a realistic shot beyond the Florida primary, only Romney has a chance and a slim one, based on his 2008 run, albeit my opinion. If Perry somehow pulls off the Florida straw poll later today or a close second, he is going to be hard to beat.
I don't mention Perry because I really believe that Americans are going to wake up in regard to how stupid this guy really is. Why the hell is Perry even as popular as he is? I really, really do not understand it. Have Americans become this shallow?
