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I really don’t know how that sentence ends just yet.
This Primary season has been really tough for me. In primaries past, I’ve usually been very comfortable with where my vote was going and my candidate was already selected. We are now less than two months away from the 2012 Republican Primary, and I’m just as undecided as I was months ago.
Here’s where I’m at with each of the candidates who show a “pulse” in polling:
Michele Bachmann – After dropping ten points from her high this past summer, Bachmann is mired in single digits. I only need two fingers to know where she’s polling right now–and her campaign manager will need twice that many fingers in scotch by the time January 10, 2012 comes around. She was never in danger of receiving my vote.
Rick Santorum – I like Rick Santorum very much. I really do. He’s solidly conservative and very knowledgeable on so many issues. The problem is, he hasn’t polled higher than 2% since he started tracking back in April. I think he has great potential as a running mate and that’s a more viable possibility. I don’t believe that’s his angle for being in the race–I truly believe he wants to be President, I just don’t see a path to nomination for him.
Jon Huntsman – There are PACs running better ads in support of Jon Huntsman than his own campaign is running. I Tweeted that exact message to the candidate and his campaign–and the campaign thanked me for the mention. I’m not sure they got that it was a negative tweet. His numbers have trended upward, but he’s not going to win New Hampshire and I don’t think he makes it past Super Tuesday. He doesn’t stand out to me at all.
Ron Paul – Dr. Paul is performing better in New Hampshire than he has in the past, but I don’t see him gaining enough ground to vault ahead of everyone else and capture the nomination. I’m sure this will invite an avalanche of hate mail from his grassroots supporters–but they’re primarily the reason that he doesn’t catch on, in all honesty. Even if Paul is the nominee, I could never vote for him–primarily because I think he’s crazy.
Herman Cain – Herman Cain had a shot before the allegations of a 13 year affair surfaced this week. That, coupled with the allegations of sexual harassment are causing supporters to jump ship. Regardless of whether the allegations are true, there’s enough smoke to make people believe there’s fire. I was considering him before, but don’t feel that I can now.
Rick Perry – Perry has seen a steep drop off in polling since he got in the race but he could be a factor later on. While I think he’s been an effective Chief Executive of Texas, I don’t think he’s been a great candidate for President. I just don’t think he’s ready now in 2012.
Mitt Romney – I voted for Romney in the Primary four years ago because I thought he was the better choice to John McCain. He’s been running for President since he lost New Hampshire in 2008 and he’s largely thought of as the person to beat for 2012. I like Governor Romney personally, I’ve just had issues reconciling statements he’s made on things like healthcare and the environment against my personal beliefs. Could I support him if he were the nominee? Sure. Do I think he can beat Obama? Yes. I just am not sure yet if he’s my guy in the Primary.
Newt Gingrich – Newt went from a guy with no campaign a few months ago to a top-tier contender for the nomination in the course of just a few months. Newt is as Washington as Washington gets, though. He’s widely regarded as the Conservative’s Conservative–but his stances on things have not always towed that line. I wan’t change in Washington–not just in parties, but in the way things are actually done–and I don’t have the confidence that Speaker Gingrich will usher in that type of change.
So, I’m no further than I was before. I keep hoping that one of these candidates will engage me enough to make me want to vote for them, but with less than two months to go I am not holding my breath.
I’ve never had this level of indecision before in voting and it’s made the whole Primary contest seem tedious this time. I want to support someone, but I don’t feel my vote has been earned by one of the candidates yet.
Time will tell…
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