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2012 Presidential Candidates...
Want to know the candidates?
Twenty-three people are vying for Commander in Chief in 2012
It’s always interesting to see who wants to take the United States into
their philosophical direction. This year, as in election years in the
past, the candidates include Libertarians, a Socialist and an
Independent. In addition to Pres. Barack Obama, there is one other
Democrat candidate. In addition to current front runners Mitt Romney
and Newt Gingrich, there are 13 other Republican candidates.
According to “2012 Presidential Candidates,” the 57th quadrennial
United States Presidential Election will be held on November 6, 2012,
and it will be expected to feature the incumbent, President Barack
Obama for the Democrats, against a yet to be decided Republican
candidate, and the increasingly obligatory third-party nominee.
The Presidential Election, which would also see the appointment of a
Vice President, will commence with nationwide state level primaries and
caucuses scheduled to kick-off January 3, 2012, in Iowa and ending on
June 5, 2012 in Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. The five-month
process will culminate with the Republican and Democratic Party
convention, which will be held on August 27-30 in Tampa and September
3-6 in Charlotte, respectively.
As the mood of the nation continues to falter in the face of a
stuttering economy, runaway public debt and the lack of viable
solutions from politicians from both sides of the divide, the import of
the Presidential Election has taken on an added significance. There is
almost an electric feel in the air, and it promises to only get
progressively worse as the date approaches (note to self: buy more hair
gel). But first, a Republican nominee must be anointed, and we are now
right in the midst of the selection process.
In the run-up to Election Day, we will keep you up-to-date on the
latest developments involving each of the prospective candidates, with
an in-depth look at their positions on current national issues as well
as providing a comprehensive (and growing) biographical background that
will hopefully assist you in evaluating their ability to lead this
great nation that is suffering from a massive epidemic of crisis in
confidence.
Candidates in alphabetical order are:
Stewart Alexander
Declared 2012 PFP & Socialist Presidential Candidate
Political Activist
In terms of hedging your bets, the 59-year old former radio talk show
host has it down pat and probably created a little bit of history for
himself in the process. Alexander has declared his candidacy for the
Oval Office seat with two different political parties; the Socialist
Party and the Peace and Freedom Party. This will be Alexander’s first
attempt for the office after failed Vice-Presidential bid in 2008.
Michele Bachmann
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from Minnesota
Michele Bachmann, the three terms Minnesota Congresswoman, is the
current chair of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus. The attractive
Iowan has seen her fortune plummet in recent weeks following the entry
of Texas Governor, Rick Perry, into the race. The resignation of deputy
campaign manager, David Polyansky, and the redeployment of campaign
manager Ed Rollins into a consulting role tell us that all is not well
in the Bachmann camp. Her September poll numbers, hovering between
6-8%, is just a third of her post-Ames Straw Poll victory figures
barely a month ago. Pundits have long cited the risks of Bachmann’s
increasing tendency to move to the right, and it now appears that she
may be holding her two top strategists responsible for the shift in her
campaign’s fortunes.
Roger Gary
Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Former Chair of the Libertarian Party of Texas
Roger Gary is a long-time Liberty activist and lifetime member of the
Libertarian Party since 1977. This 64-year old candidate resides in San
Antonio, where he was elected and served 6 years as Director of the San
Antonio River Authority. His stance on major issues falls in line with
the Libertarian Party Platform, such as civil liberties issues,
non-intervention foreign policy, and smaller federal government.
Newt Gingrich
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Speaker of the House
After a 13-year absence from mainstream politics, Newton Leroy Gingrich
has announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.
His campaign, which kicks off with 17-city swing, has unfortunately
begun under a torrent of criticisms following his controversial
statements on Medicare and a perceived attack of fellow Republican Paul
Ryan. Nevertheless, Gingrich, a fighter and above all, a consummate
politician, is expected to make a swift recovery and stamp his mark on
the race.
RJ Harris
Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
3-Tour Combat Vet, Philosopher and Law Student
RJ Harris is a 2012 Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate and a
career Army National Guard Officer, aviator and 3-tour combat veteran.
His 2010 Congressional Campaign was endorsed by Senator Rand Paul along
with many prominent Libertarians and Conservatives both in the
Libertarian and Republican Parties. He has run a small business, worked
in the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller, graduated from the University
of Oklahoma with a degree in Philosophy, and he is a third-year J.D.
Candidate at OU Law. RJ and his wife Jennifer of 20 years flourish with
their five children in Norman, Oklahoma.
Jon Huntsman
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Utah and Ambassador to China
The 51-year old former Governor of Utah officially announced his much-anticipated entry into the
presidential race, with the Statue of Liberty spectacularly serving as
the backdrop. The highly rated and charismatic Republican technocrat is
considered by many in Washington as one of most dangerous dark horses
in the race, and is one of the few capable of unseating President Obama.
Gary Johnson
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of New Mexico
The former Libertarian Republican Governor does not attend church, is
pro-choice, anti-big government, pro-immigration, an outspoken critic
of the war on drugs and favors legalizing marijuana. He led New Mexico
for eight years, during which time the state saw no tax increase, and
he vetoed over 750 separate pieces of legislation to keep the
government from growing. However, his views on civil liberties, foreign
policy and drugs may be difficult for many conservatives to reconcile
with.
Fred Karger
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Political Consultant & Gay Rights Activist
Fred Karger, one of the shrewdest Republican political operators of the
past three decades, announced the formation of his 2012 Exploratory
Committee on July 18, 2010, making him the first ever openly gay
aspirant for the presidency. Despite being a lifelong Republican, the
61-year old Karger will be running on an independent ticket. His
campaign was hit with a sucker punch when he was locked out of the
Carolina Republican Party Presidential Debate of May 5, with the
organizers citing his low poll numbers as the reason.
Andy Martin
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
The self-professed People’s Attorney General and Internet Powerhouse is
famously remembered as the source of the chain mail and online reports
questioning the citizenship of President Obama and the claim that he
was a Muslim. The 66-year old Martin filed his papers as a candidate
for the next presidential election on Feb 8, and was quoted two weeks
later saying, “Obama plays for keeps. He plays rough, and that’s the
only way to beat him, and I’m the only one that is tough enough to do
that.”
Jimmy McMillan
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
The former mayoral, gubernatorial and senatorial candidate for the Rent
Is Too Damn High Party announced his candidacy for the Republican
presidential nomination on December last year. Explaining his decision
not to contest the Democratic nomination, a party he was formerly
registered with, karate expert McMillan was quoted as saying “the rent
is too damn high.” The flamboyant Vietnam veteran also gave some words
of advice to President Obama, “If you don’t do your job right, I am
coming at you!”
Tom Miller
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Career Flight Attendant
Tom Miller feels that the country is being destroyed from within
chiefly through a series of failed fiscal and immigration policies; a
state of affair brought forth by an entrenched political elite. Miller
sees himself as a representative of the people, as envisioned by the
Founding Fathers themselves, and offers a solution-based approach to
tackle the multitude of issues facing the nation. Ultimately, he hopes
to re-empower the American people around the concept of small
government.
Barack Obama
Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Current President of the United States
Born to a Kenyan father and a Caucasian mother, the former community
activist and lawyer came into national prominence with a show stopping
keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston,
befitting his reputation as a brilliant orator. In 2008, after a hard
fought win against Hillary Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination,
the former Senator from Illinois crushed Republican John McCain to
become the first African American to claim the presidency.
Ron Paul
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from the State of Texas
The former medical doctor officially announced his candidacy for the
2012 Republican Presidential nomination on May 13, 2011. The 75-year
old Texas Congressman will once again center his campaign on the theme
of liberty, human rights and financial market reforms. With his small
but vocal pockets of supporters spread all over the country, the
Libertarian leaning Republican is set to be one of the most
controversial characters on the campaign trail.
Rick Perry
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Current Governor of Texas
After almost two years of uncertainty, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s wall
of resistance has crumbled. Perry took advantage of the publicity
generated by the Ames Straw Poll and announced his entry into the
Republican nomination race in Charleston, South Carolina, with a
confident declaration, “I full well believe I’m going to win”. His
candidacy is expected to reinvigorate the hitherto subdued Republican
evangelical grassroots, and inject some excitement into the contest.
Carl Person
Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
New York attorney and founder of the Paralegal Institute
Carl Person is a self-confessed high school dropout who would later go
on to become a New York attorney and found the Paralegal Institute. He
finished third in voting in 2010 for New York Attorney General, a
position he claims holds more power than the United States President. A
small business owner for nearly 20 years, he says he knows how to turn
around the economy: privatization and reduction or elimination of
business regulations.
Buddy Roemer
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Louisiana
After being away from politics for the last two decades, former
Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer announced on March this year the launch
of his presidential exploratory committee. The 67-year old former
Democrat has cited campaign finance reforms as one of the bulwarks of
his platform and has imposed a $100 limit on disclosed contributions
per individual for his potential run. At a Tea Party rally in May, he
claims that the current system is “disastrous, it’s dysfunctional.”
Mitt Romney
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Massachusetts
John McCain’s defeat to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election
signaled the reemergence of the former Massachusetts Governor as a
serious contender, and clear favorite, for the 2012 Republican
presidential nomination. The Harvard man has been comfortably leading
almost every poll since then. He was knocked off his perch for about
two months by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, during the summer of 2011.
However, he has since recovered and has once again returned to his seat
at the top of the leader board. And unless Perry, Cain, Huntsman,
Bachmann and company can pull something out of their collective hats,
the liberal turned conservative turned moderate former venture
capitalist may just walk through the primaries. While his ideology and
personal beliefs may be subject to debate, his knack for business is
beyond question – and his across the board appeal makes him a dangerous
opponent for President Obama.
Rick Santorum
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former US Senator from Pennsylvania
The former two-term senator from Pennsylvania officially announced his
entry into the GOP Presidential nomination race on June 6, 2011,
symbolically launching his campaign at the Somerset County Courthouse,
located not far from the coal mine where his grandfather first worked
after arriving from Italy. Despite his dismal poll numbers, Santorum is
confident of gaining grounds on early favorite Mitt Romney and warns,
“We are going to be in this race, and we’re in it to win.”
Matt Snyder
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Matthew Bradley Snyder is a supporter of people, not parties. He
believes in the passion that stirs the heart of the common man. It is
not political ambition, but personal experience, that enflames that
passion. A president should exude it, not emulate it. Snyder is a true
representative of the people.
Randall Terry
Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Pro-life Activist
At a glance, it may seem a little odd for a pro-life and anti-LGBT
candidate to run for the Democratic nomination. A closer look however,
would tell us that an estimated 30-40% of Democrats actually shares the
52-year old Terry’s views. And for those who consider this as nothing
more than a publicity stunt by an anti-abortionist radical, think
again. Randall Terry is planning to spend close to $3 million for a
30-second slot in the 2012 Super Bowl.
Danny Woodring
Declared 2012 Independent Presidential Candidate
Danny Earl Woodring, a 63-year-old Vietnam vet (DAV) and recipient of
the Purple Heart, has joined the race for the presidency as a write-in
independent conservative. The telco consultant is running his campaign
exclusively from the internet and welcomes assistance from volunteers.
The father of five and grandfather of eight currently resides in Palm
Bay, Florida, with wife Ina.
R. Lee Wrights
Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Libertarian Activist
R. Lee Wrights officially announced his candidacy for the Libertarian
2012 presidential nomination race at the party’s annual state
convention in Hickory, on April 15, 2011. The 52-year old former
sergeant with the U.S. Air Force proclaimed “I am still a warrior, but
I am not at war”, a clear indication of his anti-war stance. The Tar
Heel Libertarian has been an ever-present name in the Libertarian
circles for over a decade and once served as Vice-Chair of the
Libertarian National Committee.
Wrights’s profile, official website and positions on the issues
Vern Wuensche
Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman
Wuensche ran for President in 2008, garnering a tenth place finish in
both the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, despite spending only
$36,000. In 100 days, the owner of Houston’s third oldest construction
company, visited over 6,000 local businesses and churches in 242 towns
in both states. He believes that businesses survive and thrive chiefly
through the caliber of those who runs them and thus, these executives
are perfectly qualified for a public office shorn of proven management
experience
Officially Withdrawn: Herman Cain, Thad McCotter, Tim Pawlenty
See all platforms and other information on the race at 2012 Presidential Candidates
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