Posted by
Glen Albrethsen on Thursday, January 17, 2008 6:16:52 PM
We've established the most conservative candidates to the least, based on records, current stances and perceptions of those. The list is as follows:
Fred Thompson
Duncan Hunter
Mitt Romney
Rudy Giuliani
Ron Paul
Mike Huckabee
John McCain
I've expressed the doubts about each (see blog entry below). Now, it's time to do some whittling.
I think I should start with viability. Regarding that, I think we should look at what candidates have garnered so far, and how well they are polling in currently contested states, and nationally.
As of right now, who has the least chance of winning, based on percentage of the vote to date, plus what's going on in the polls.
1. Duncan Hunter
Though, considered one of the most conservative, Hunter has not had much traction in this race. He has been considered largely a one issue candidate, that being immigration. He has consistently received 1% of the vote, or less, except for the Wyoming caucus, where he received 8% of the vote. He has not received much media coverage since the last Republican debate he was allowed to participate in, which was three debates ago. Whether or not he drops out before Super Tuesday, he is the least likely to make a comeback of any of the remaining candidates due to a severe lack of media exposure and funding.
2. Ron Paul
His best showing thus far in the early primary season has been fourth, which took place in Michigan. Prior to that, he has been a consistent fifth place. He has done an amazing amount of fund raising, thanks to a great grass root campaign over the internet. He may well continue through February 5 because of it, but polls have him lagging in state primaries as well as nationally. He does not appear to have much support among the conservative base, though he may fair better among the broader Republican electorate. His is considered much more a Libertarian, which can have conservative elements.
Doing this, narrows the field to look like this:
Fred Thompson
Mitt Romney
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
John McCain
With these five, Let's take a look at an understanding of the issues, and how they would rank based on sheer knowledge. I've taken the larger issues of the campaign so far and ranked the candidates based on what their knowledge of these issues are.
Candidate Economy Security Foreign affairs Social policy Immigration Social security
Mitt Romney X X X X X X
Fred Thompson X X X X X X
Rudy Giuliani X X X X X
John McCain X X
Mike Huckabee X X
This ranking is based on the grasp of each issue the candidate conveys during interviews, debates, speeches and campaign stumping. This also factors in current events that the candidate was either aware of our not aware of.
Romney, Thompson and Giuliani have been the most substantive in knowledge and the expression of that knowledge. You might not always agree, or believe where they're coming from on the issues, but you do have to admit they express a comprehension of the issues in a more comprehensive manner than McCain and Huckabee.
Let's look at executive leadership experience held by the candidate. If we look at just strictly government, we see this:
Mike Huckabee
Rudy Giuliani
Mitt Romney
John McCain
Fred Thompson
Neither McCain or Thompson have been executives in government. Both have either chaired or been on prominent committees, but neither have been a governor or a mayor of a large city.
If we factor in volunteer executive experience, then we see this
Mitt Romney
Mike Huckabee
Rudy Giuliani
John McCain
Fred Thompson
if we look at business executive experience, we see this
Mitt Romney
Rudy Giuliani
Fred Thompson
Mike Huckabee
John McCain
If we look just at the length of time in government, period, we get this:
John McCain
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Fred Thompson
Mitt Romney
To be continued...