Rick Perry 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

As a fifth generation Texan, Rick Perry has led a life of public service, starting with flying C-130s in the United States Air Force in 1972 and then continuing with over two decades as an elected official.  His political career began in 1985 as a State House Representative for a rural West Texas district.  Elected in 1990, he then served two terms as the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.  Rick Perry was elected in 1998 as Lieutenant Governor of Texas and two years later was sworn in as Governor of Texas after Governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States.  He was later elected to a 4-year term in 2002, and then and re-elected in 2006.  He served as the Republican Governors Association Chairman in 2008 and currently serves as Finance Chair.  His current administration focuses on improving education, increasing economic development through classic conservative values, and securing the border.  Under his leadership, Texas recently yielded a balanced state budget, made tax cuts for about 40,000 small businesses, and produced a Rainy Day Fund nearing $9 billion.

Governor Perry signed into law a series of lawsuit reforms to decrease frivolous lawsuits, so employers can spend their resources on creating jobs instead of defending themselves.  These reforms also reversed skyrocketing malpractice insurance rates, leading to an influx of doctors seeking work in Texas and returning to practice in previously under-served, high-risk areas.  Governor Perry has increased the quality of Texas schools by raising expectations, increasing accountability, and funding successful programs.  He introduced the largest incentive pay program for teachers in the country, approved a 43% increase in public education spending, signed reforms that produced a 33% reduction in school property taxes, and oversaw a $2,000 pay raise for teachers.  He has also worked with the state legislature to fund $110 million for coordinating border security approaches involving, local, county, state, and federal law enforcement efforts that decreased crime by over 60% in key areas.  Recently, Governor Perry has drawn a lot of attention in his criticism of the Obama administration’s handling of the recession and for turning down about $555 million in stimulus money for unemployment insurance.  However, the Texas Association of Business praised him for the decision and his justification that the funds and the mandatory changes to state law would have placed an enduring tax burden on employers.

Governor Perry is currently seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four-year gubernatorial term in 2010.  He won the Republican primary election in March by defeating U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  Rick Perry has persistently denied any aspiration to seek a higher office.  In 2008, while appearing on CNBC he stated, “I already have the best job in the world.”  In 2009, he was listed on the 2012 Presidential Straw Poll Ballot and requested his name be removed.  In March of this year, he was quoted, “I have great interest in who the President is going to be in 2012.  It won’t be me. I have no interest in going to Washington, D.C.”   Then in April, he tells Newsweek he is not considering running in the 2012 Presidential Election under any circumstances.  Still, many political analysts believe he could be a viable contender as a 2012 Republican Nominee.  While serving as an extensive fundraising apparatus, he has an appealing long record as the conservative Governor of Texas, an anti-Washington message that appeals to many Republicans and Tea Party Members, and excellent ties to key pro-GOP media figures.

Vote for Rick Perry in the 2012 Presidential Poll vs. Obama

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Rick Santorum 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Rick Santorum is both a former U.S. Representative and Senator from Pennsylvania who is now considering candidacy as a Republican Nominee for the 2012 Presidential Election.  Santorum left private law practice after being elected to the House in 1990.  He was re-elected in 1992 and while working in Congress, he exposed congressional corruption by exposing guilty parties in the House banking scandal.  Then in 1994, he was elected to the Senate and again re-elected in 2000.  While serving as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, he was a frequent party spokesperson and directed the communications operations of Senate Republicans.  In 2006, he was defeated in the U.S. Senate election by Democrat Bob Casey, Jr.

He then went back to practicing law where he provides clients strategic and business counseling services.   He also serves as Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and works to identify, study, and heighten awareness of the threats to the West and America from an increasing range of radical Islamic states that violate religious liberty across the globe and cast a shadow over our own future.  He also focuses on domestic threats to America’s freedom and moral foundation by addressing the long-term fiscal health and tax burden on families and entrepreneurs, and the challenges and threats to other foundational freedoms.  He is also a contributor to Fox News, a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Friday host of a nationally syndicated radio program, “Morning in America”.

Considered a social and fiscal conservative, Santorum is also known for his confrontational style of politics.  He has attracted both criticism and support from his outspoken and socially conservative views.  He approves of legislation that would restrict or prohibit abortion and has expressed disapproval of homosexuality, but believes the public should decide these moral issues through its elected officials rather than unelected Supreme Court Judges.  He has also actively addressed the issues of government accountability and welfare reform.  Santorum believes that much of the world’s conflict stems from Islamic fascism rooted in Iran, yet opposes military action against the country and thought the most effective action against Iran would instead require America fighting for a strong Iraq, Israel, and Lebanon.  He also opposed the Senate immigration reform proposal, stating the U.S. should act to enforce currently existing laws.  He is against offering amnesty to illegal immigrants and believes they should be deported immediately after committing a crime.  He also feels they should not receive any government benefits and supports the building of a security barrier along our border, along with increased Border Patrol Agents and National Guard Troops.

In 2009, Santorum stated, “I see that 2012 is a real opportunity for success.”  He has made visits to Iowa and South Carolina and appearances with several political non-profit organizations.  Then, earlier this year, he announced to his Political Action Committee supporters that he is considering a bid for the 2012 Presidential Election and told them that that conservatives need a candidate who can stand up for our views, as well as eloquently express a conservative vision for our country’s future.  He has also cited concerns about the direction President Obama is taking our country and has publically urged GOP committee members and other Republicans to stand up against the growing reach and cost of government and a weak foreign policy that threatens our country.

Vote for Rick Santorum in the 2012 Presidential Poll
http://2012obama.com/presidential-polls/rick-santorum-vs-obama-in-2012-presidential-election/

Mike Pence 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Mike Pence describes himself as “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”  In 2009, political analysts listed him as a possible Republican Nominee for the 2012 Presidential Election.  Earlier this year, Pence told a Tea Party member that he has given it some consideration.  Officially, he travels the nation to help other House Republican Candidates campaign and raise money and attention.  However, by visiting California, Iowa, and South Carolina, many feel he may be testing the waters for a potential 2012 Presidential Election bid based on his populist and conservative message.  Additionally, it was reported he has hired some serious new national-level campaign staffers and gathered a circle of influential advisors.

Following college graduation, Mike Pence worked as an attorney and radio talk show host.  In 1994, “The Mike Pence Show” aired on eighteen stations throughout Indiana.  From 1995-1999, Pence also hosted a political television show on Sunday mornings in Indianapolis.  Pence was initially elected to Congress in 2000 and is currently serving his 5^th term as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana.  Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, he was appointed to the Judiciary Committee, where he participated in drafting the Patriot Act and legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.

Since 2003, Pence has served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and continues to try to support the interests of Americans in his service and the constituents of Indiana as a voice for American security.  He regularly visits troops serving in Iraq, has led government delegations to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Egypt, and visited with military personnel and government leaders in many other countries as well.  Advocating firm resolve against our adversaries and for strong alliances with our allies, Congressman Pence has denounced the aggressions against Israel, the human rights abuses in China and Venezuela, and the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.

He has also visited Israel and authored amendments to safeguard their right to construct a security fence around disputed territories and to cut off American funding to organizations that support Palestinian terrorist organizations.  In 2005, several news periodicals and papers portrayed his as an emerging and powerful national spokesperson for conservative principals.  He was also named “Man of the Year” by a leading conservative publication for his leadership on behalf of fiscal discipline.  Later, Representative Pence was also named as one of the top 20 most influential conservatives in America in 2007.

Unanimously elected by his party in 2008 to serve as the House Republican Conference Chairman, Pence helps to promote its members and develop and spread the message of the Republican Conference for advancing conservative social and economic issues.  Recently, a Washington newspaper covering Congress named him as one of the 25 hardest working lawmakers.  He also regularly appears on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and Indiana’s most prominent talk radio stations.  In June, Representative Pence adamantly opposed President Obama’s $400 million pledge of U.S. aid to the Palestinian territories as a commitment to improve life in Gaza by creating jobs, increasing access to clean drinking water, and building affordable housing and schools.

Vote for Mike Pence in the 2012 Presidential Poll Vs Obama

http://2012obama.com/presidential-polls/mike-pence-vs-obama-in-2012-presidential-election/

John Thune 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

John Thune began his political career working as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator James Abdnor and then in the Small Business Administration during President Reagan’s Administration.  In 1989, he served as the Executive Director of the South Dakota Republican Party.  He was then appointed as the State Railroad Director in 1991 and two years later became Executive Director of the South Dakota Municipal League.  Then, in 1996, he won his first term as South Dakota’s member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  He served two more terms in the House and then after losing the 2002 Senate race by only 524 votes, returned to win the Senate seat in 2004.  He defeated incumbent Tom Daschle, who was the U.S. Senate Minority Leader of the Democrats, with 51% of the vote in the most expensive Senate race of that year with $30 million spent.

Chosen as the Republican Party’s Chief Deputy Whip, Thune also wrote language for a transportation bill that expanded federal loans to small railroads, shortly after his arrival to the Senate.  He also supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, in hopes that it would result in a greater religious freedom for Iraq.  He took an active role in developing energy policy by promoting an extensive energy bill that triumphed over a series of Democratic filibusters and finally passed in 2005.  After the Department of Defense planned to close Ellsworth Air Force Base as part of its 2005 base closures, Senator Thune lobbied to keep it open as it serves as one of the largest employers within South Dakota.  He also contended that it did not make sense to consolidate all of our country’s B-1s into a one location because a possible tornado or single attack could potentially destroy the entire fleet.  Later, it was voted 8–1 to reverse the Pentagon’s recommendation to close Ellsworth.

In 2006, he reaffirmed his strong support to amend the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.  As a strong pro-life defender, he also opposes any federal financial support for elective abortions in agreement with the Hyde Amendment.  Senator Thune helped pass another energy bill in 2007; he is an advocate of wind energy and ethanol, which are linked to South Dakota’s windy prairies and high levels of corn production.  As a fiscal conservative, he voted against the stimulus spending and economic recovery bills of 2008 and 2009.  He also sponsored a troop support bill amendment in 2009 designed to create a federal law that would give owners of concealed weapons the right to carry them across states.  However, the amendment did not pass, missing only two more votes.  Senator Thune also serves as Chairman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee.

Although this South Dakota Republican is up for re-election this year, no Democrat or Independent has filed to run against him.  Therefore, Senator Thune is widely viewed as a potential Republican Nominee for the 2012 Presidential Election with plenty of money and time left over, who can also help other Republicans win more seats this November as their party plans to regain Capitol Hill.  Sources close to him acknowledge he has received significant encouragement to run and is likely to consider a national bid.  This summer, he touched many themes that appeal to the party’s conservative base and repeatedly invoked President Ronald Regan’s name while serving as a keynote speaker at a high-profile conference for Republican state party chairs.  He advocated limiting the size and cost of the federal government and strengthening U.S. national security.  He also spent time criticizing Democrats for ramping up spending and government debt.

Tim Pawlenty 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Timothy Pawlenty is currently the Governor of Minnesota.  However, in 2009, he announced he would not seek re-election in 2010.  While serving in a traditionally liberal state, the conservative Republican, Pawlenty, has been noted as “Minnesota’s Ronald Reagan.”  In 2007, Pawlenty served as co-chairman of McCain’s campaign and a year later earned a finalist position on John McCain’s Vice President list.  Many now feel he has taken additional steps that will lead to a bid for the 2012 Presidential Election by starting a political action committee and making multiple visits to New Hampshire and Iowa. Regarded as one of the nation’s most energetic, accomplished, innovative, and reform-minded governors, Pawlenty could serve as a strong 2012 Republican Nominee.   Viewed as a serious contender while compiling a remarkable record of fiscal restraint in a blue state, Pawlenty battles a Democratic legislature on a daily basis.  Competent, disciplined, smart, and likeable, he also possesses a formidable talent as one of the best communicators in modern politics.

Born and raised in Minnesota, he initially worked as a labor law attorney.  Later he served as Vice President for a software service company.  His political career started in 1988 with an appointment to a City Planning Commission and a year later elected to the City Council.  Then in 1992, Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives where he served five terms.  He was also chosen as the Republican House Majority Leader in 1998.  Pawlenty was first elected as Governor of Minnesota in 2002 and then re-elected in 2006.  Throughout his tenure, Governor Pawlenty has taken several delegations of government, business, academic, and civic leaders to China, Canada, India, Israel, and the Czech Republic to promote trade relations and investment into Minnesota and to acquire market information and potential business partners.  He has also made trips to Poland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and other nations to visit deployed National Guardsmen from Minnesota.

In 2002, Pawlenty prevailed over gubernatorial challengers at the polls with campaign pledges of not raising taxes to balance Minnesota’s budget deficit, changing the state’s education requirements, mandating a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, requiring visa expiration dates on driver’s licenses, and creating a conceal-carry gun law.  In his first year, he balanced a $4.3 billion deficit by increasing state fees and reducing the rate of funding increases for state services, such as welfare, social services, and transportation.  In 2004, he invited Mexican President Vicente Fox to Minnesota in hopes of strengthening trade.  In 2005, he signed into law a bill that will raise the minimum mandated mixture of gasohol (gasoline and ethanol) from 10% to 20% in 2013.

During his second term, Pawlenty eliminated a $2.7 billion deficit by cutting spending and shifting payments.  He signed a $999.9 million public works bill in 2006 that included funding for the Northstar Commuter rail, a Faribault prison, and science facilities at Minnesota State University.  The bill also funded an expansion of the Carlson School of Management and a bioscience building at the University of Minnesota.  He raised fees and imposed toll lanes on roads to help discourage excessive traffic; several carpool lanes were transformed into high-occupancy toll lanes.  He also served as the chairperson of the National Governors Association in 2007 and 2008.  In 2009, he recommended a 3% cut in state reimbursements to physicians as a mechanism to balance the state budget.  He recently sent a letter to President Obama requesting an emergency summit to consider solutions that could protect important ecological and economic interests in regards to threatened Asian carp in the Great Lakes areas and Minnesota.

Vote in the 2012 Presidential Poll! Tim Pawlenty vs Obama!

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Mitch Daniels 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Outside of politics, Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. found success in the private sector and held many CEO and top management positions that taught him excellent business skills.  However, he also served as President Ronald Reagan’s Senior Advisor in 1985 and as the Director of the Federal Office of Management and Budget during President George W. Bush’s term from 2001 to 2003.  During this time, he was also a member of both the Homeland and National Security Councils.  Then in 2004, Mitch Daniels was elected as the Governor of Indiana with 53% of the vote in his first bid for any elected office.  He is currently serving his second and final term as Governor.  During reelection, Daniels received more votes in 2008 than any other candidate seeking public office in Indiana’s history and won by an 18-point margin, even while Obama carried the state.

Right away, Daniels created a public-private corporation to help create new jobs within his state and for its first four years of operation, it broke all previous records and brought in $18 million in new investments.  Through massive improvements, Indiana is now near the top of every national ranking for business attractiveness.  He also created a department to look for cost savings and thus led the state in 2005 to its first balanced budget in eight years.  Without a tax increase, Governor Daniels transformed an inherited $600 million deficit into an annual surplus of $370 million within one year.  Through innovative policy, he generated almost $4 billion from the 2006 lease of the Indiana Toll Road, the largest to-date privatization of public infrastructure in the U.S.

Governor Daniels signed legislation for a health savings account in 2007, called the Healthy Indiana Plan,  that provides approximately 132,000 uninsured Indiana residents with coverage to help them pay medical expenses.  It is funded by an increase on the state’s tax of cigarettes and promotes early prevention services, health screenings, and smoking cessation.  In 2008, he led property tax reform that resulted in the largest tax cut of Indiana’s history.  Recently, Daniels’ push for clean energy placed Indiana as one of the leading bio-fuel states with fifteen plants that also include the world’s largest soybean bio-diesel plant.

As a very distinguished Republican, the conservative side might see Daniels as the best possible path to challenging President Obama.  Persistent and efficient, Daniels could help Republicans reclaim the mantel of fiscal conservatism as his record shows he takes finances and budgeting quite seriously by turning an enormous state deficit into a surplus through payroll cuts, reducing government spending, and streamlining services.

He could easily bring executive competence and the tools of a CEO to the executive branch.  Daniels might be the 2012 Republican nominee who could help his party win back independent and suburban voters who went blue in 2008 as this rising star’s approval ratings remain strong, at about 70%, while the President’s sits at only 52%.

In 2009, he dismissed speculations of a run in the 2012 Presidential Election by stating, “I’ve only ever run for or held one office.  It’s the last one I’m going to hold.”  However, earlier this year he told a reporter for the Washington Post that he was open to the idea of running in 2012.  Then later on when asked about any contemplation to a White House Run, Daniels shoots down more speculation when he told a Huffington Post reporter, “You know the savagery of our politics.  I don’t plan to do it. I don’t expect to do it; I really don’t want to do it.”  Although he claims reluctance in seeking higher office, many continue to feel Daniels may seek Republican nomination for the 2012 Presidential Election as his political action committee nears a million dollars in proceeds and after he joined the national debate on cap and trade legislation.

Jon Huntsman 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Born in 1960, Jon Huntsman, Jr., is the current U. S. Ambassador to China.  In the 80s, he learned to speak both Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien fluently while living in Taiwan for a couple of years and spending time there as a Mormon missionary.  He later worked as a Staff Assistant for the Reagan Administration and Ambassador to Singapore and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce during President George Bush’s reign.  Later, as the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative inside George W. Bush’s Administration, he negotiated dozens of free trade and investment framework agreements and brokered both bi- and multi-lateral trade agreements for our country with several other nations.  In 2001, Huntsman also played an important role in launching global trade negotiations in Qatar and organizing the simultaneous accession of Taiwan and China into the World Trade Organization.

He was elected Governor of Utah in 2004, seizing 57% of the vote, and later won re-election in 2008 with 80% of the vote.  He oversaw large tax cuts and advocated reorganizing the way that services are distributed in hopes that the state government does not become overwhelmed by its fast growing population.  Huntsman continually worked on trying to increase his state’s economic competitiveness and maximizing funding to its public education system.  He thought it was important to expand health-care through the private sector with negotiations to keep prices lower and tax breaks.  He also tended to walk a conservative line on abortion, gun control, and gay marriage topics.  During his terms, Utah was often recognized by several prestigious organizations for dynamism, quality of life, and business climate and was named the Best Managed State in America.  Then in 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Governor Huntsman to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China, noting his Mandarin proficiency and experience in the region.  After a unanimous Senate confirmation, Huntsman resigned as Governor and was then sworn in as our Ambassador to China.

Viewed by many as a moderate Republican, he made John McCain’s vice president shortlist in 2008 and many political experts felt Huntsman would be a 2012 Republican nominee.   However, since going across the Pacific to serve as our Ambassador, his media profile here in the U.S. has significantly dropped.  He is now instead a popular press item in China through both his personal and professional connections.  Developed over a lifetime of interest and involvement, he displays a breadth of experience in Asia.  Extremely committed to serving in this critical post and devoted to one of our country’s most important international relationships, Huntsman often includes Mandarin in his speeches and appears to relish his return to diplomacy.  Recently, Huntsman’s previous advisor said he might consider another campaign when returning to the U.S. but that it is not likely to happen in 2012 stating, “He’s pretty happy being the Ambassador right now.”  So for now, many believe Huntsman may wait until the 2016 cycle to run for the White House.

Vote for Jon Huntsman in the 2012 Presidential Poll vs Obama!

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Governor Haley Barbour – 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Born and raised in Mississippi, Haley Reeves Barbour has a multitude of political experience starting with his work on Richard Nixon’s election campaign back in 1968.  He then worked as a lawyer and lobbyist for many years.  Later, Barbour was a political aide in the Reagan White House and worked on the 1988 George Bush presidential campaign.  Barbour also served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997 and executed the historic Republican takeover of Congress in 1994.  His efforts as party head during this time, spawned credit for some of the political successes of several Republican icons, from Newt Gingrich to George W. Bush.  Haley Barbour then ran for Governor of Mississippi in 2003 and won with 53% of the vote, marking it as the largest election voter turnout in Mississippi Gubernatorial history.  In 2007, he secured a 2^nd term with 58% of the vote.

Upon Barbour’s arrival as Governor, Mississippi carried a $709 million budget deficit from the 2004 fiscal year.  Through bipartisan support and without raising any taxes, he implemented a plan to cut the deficit in half and accomplished such mostly by reducing spending on social services such as Medicaid for about 65,000 individuals who already qualified for the federal Medicare program.  After Hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi in 2005, he gained the national spotlight by taking an early lead in helping victims recover and rebuild.  He and First Lady Marsha Barbour worked with local, state, and national leadership to access multiple assistance resources.  He also created an innovative commission to help rebuild Mississippi that awarded him $5.4 billion in federal funding for infrastructure, housing, and other recovery work.  In 2006, the state achieved its first balanced budget in many years and by continually reducing spending over the years, projections suggest Mississippi will now see a 2010 year-end balance between $50 and $60 billion.

Under Barbour’s leadership, Mississippi has also seen a 25% increase in per capita personal income, increases in public education funding, significant civil justice tort reform, and prudent management of the state health care program.  He is also creating new attention as an abundant energy producing state that can help meet our nation’s future energy needs with liquefied natural gas, bio-fuels, nuclear power, and clean coal and coal to liquid.  In May 2010, Governor Haley Barbour signed Senate Bill 3214, restricting the use of federal funds to pay for most abortions under the new federal health care law.  It prohibits the public or taxpayers’ funding of abortion in any health exchanges that will be created in 2014 by Obama’s recently signed federal health care law.  Barbour strongly identifies as himself as pro-life and worked with conservative Democrats and Republicans to tighten its state’s abortion laws.

Haley Barbour is currently serving his 7^th year as Governor of Mississippi and because of his re-election in 2007, he cannot run again in 2011 due to Mississippi’s term limits.  Therefore, his visits to and speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire in late 2009 produced speculation that he may serve as a Republican Nominee for the 2012 Presidential Election.  Those close to Barbour feel he is inclined to run for President as he notices weakness in other candidates, admires strengths in his own political operation, and discreetly builds a complex political operation easily rivaling those of any other 2012 Republican nominees.   Through his own political action committee and other leadership committees, event fundraisers, and various associations, he has quietly accepted over a half of a million dollars in the past 6 months.  As the evidence mounts, many GOP politicians also feel Haley Barbour, the current Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association and prolific money-man has a lot to offer the Republican Party in the 2012 Presidential Election.

Vote in the 2012 Presidential Poll for Barbour Vs Obama in 2012 Election

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