Although the election is not for another 20 months, the 2008 presidential election is occupying a top spot in the media. Between Right now Rudy Giuliani, "America's Mayor," is leading polls with a sometime 2-1 lead over his nearest rival, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Besides Giulani and McCain, there are a host of other Republicans currently seeking the nomination, making this an exciting and vibrant field. I had the opportunity to listen to many of these candidates this past week at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
When considering presidential candidates, there are basically two phases of the campaign. In the primary phase, which officially kicks off in January 2008, one must consider candidates in relation to their "base" - a party's respective group of hardcore supporters. The bases of each party tend to be more conservative or liberal than the average American, but it will be the primary voters who determine which candidate makes it to the general election.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, Calif., speaks like an elder statesman not interested in politics, but in finding solutions that work to solve America's problems. He has a very conservative voting record and is credited with getting the first fence on the U.S.-Mexico border, which has curbed illegal immigration into San Diego.
The former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee is the presidential candidate who most surprised me at CPAC. He gave an excellent speech and has a good record on social issues, strongly opposing abortion and gay marriage. As the first person in his family to graduate from college, he does not come from money, giving him a perspective on the poor and middle classes that other candidates lack.
Huckabee is also the first governor in the country to have a concealed carry permit for gun ownership in history. He does not have a strong record on economic issues, having increased spending and raised taxes while governor.
Rep. Ron Paul, Texas, is a self-described libertarian, and is pro-life, but clashes with many Republicans by advocating immediate withdrawal from Iraq. He also favors protectionist economics, which, combined with his low-name recognition, makes victory extremely unlikely.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, Col., has been a voice for conservatives on illegal immigration for years, and is founder of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, a bipartisan group that opposes any sort of amnesty plans. He's a rock solid conservative and plain spoken to such a degree that some call him blunt. Tancredo is running to get his issues on the table and considers himself a long shot.
Senator Sam Brownback, Kan., is positioning himself as the social conservative's choice. He has a strong record on social issues and was the only candidate to speak at this year's March for Life, the biggest gathering of pro-life advocates in the country. Brownback opposes Bush's NSA wiretapping program, and is a strong human rights activist. The Genocide Intervention Network called him a "champion of Darfur."
Former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney has been campaigning hard and had volunteers and staffers at CPAC in full force. But he has come under fire from conservatives for starting his career as a liberal and changing his positions overnight, earning him the grassroots nickname "Flip Romney." He also faces questions as to whether the American electorate would elect a Mormon.
Senator John McCain campaigned in a fierce 2000 primary, losing to President George W. Bush, and has since remained in the spotlight. He has been criticized for not accepting his invitation to CPAC, which certainly will not endear him to an already skeptical base. Several conservative candidates have named the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill as something they would work to overturn if elected. He has also been criticized for his opposition to Bush's first-term tax cuts.
McCain has a lot of money and name-recognition, but his primary motivation seems to be restoring America's faith in its government by any means necessary. He has been both critical and supportive of the current administration's Iraq policy.
Giuliani is the favorite at the moment, and national columnist George Will said he may be the person to govern most conservatively in the entire field, using fiscally-conservative solutions to bring New York City out of economic darkness. Crime rates in New York City dropped dramatically because of his policies and reduced the city's welfare rolls by turning welfare offices into "Job Centers," using city employees to help welfare recipients find jobs.
He is a controversial candidate, notably disagreeing with social conservatives on gay marriage and possibly abortion. He has been a loud supporter of the Bush tax cuts by being the first mayor in New York City history to cut taxes. His foreign policy echoes former President Ronald Reagan's doctrine of "peace through strength."
Those are the major players in the field right now, though former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said he will not make up his mind until September, a smart decision, leaving him as a wild card in the race.
Personally, I have not made up my mind of who to support in this election yet. I am glad there are so many choices on both sides of the aisle. Anything can happen in the next 20 months.
Ryan M. Silberstein is a member of the College Republicans. His viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of The Review staff. Please send comments to flybyyyz@udel.edu
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