Primary elections voter’s guide
Age: 65
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Spouse: Ann Romney
Previous Political Positions held:
CEO of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics (1992-2002)
Governor of Massachusetts (2002-2007)
Previous Employment:
Vice President of Bain and Company from 1978-1984 and then again from 1990-1992.
Bain and Company is a consulting firm for businesses that provides solutions to problems and methods to improve their performance.
Founder of Bain Capital.
Bain Capital is a money management company that specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit and public market investments.
Background
Mitt Romney’s father George, served as the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1968. In 1994, he ran for the U.S. Senate for the state of Massachusetts against incumbent Senator Edward Kennedy. Romney lost by a vote of 41 to 58 percent. In 2002, Romney ran and won against Shannon O’Brien by a vote of 55 to 45 percent. After his term as Massachusetts Governor had ended Romney decided to run in the 2008 Presidential election. After less than a year on the campaign trial, Romney bowed out of the race because of “concerns that if he waited he might decrease McCain’s chances of winning the general election.” Romney announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential race on June 2, 2011. He currently has 127 delegates out of the 1,144 needed for the nomination.
Key Issues
According to the Washington Post, “Romney’s economic prescriptions aren’t much different than those he offered during his 2008 presidential campaign.” While campaigning, Romney has frequently brought up his experience in both the public and private sector. According to CNN, “Romney has also expressed support for the ‘Cut, Cap and Balance’ approach to curbing federal deficit spending that has been championed by tea party activists and some conservative lawmakers in Congress.” Romney is against same-sex marriage and has said he is “firmly pro-life.” Republican candidates have called Romney into question over his Massachusetts health care system, which other candidates have said is the blue print for “Obama Care” or the new health care system that was passed by the government and will be phased in over the coming years.
Age: 53
Hometown: Winchester, Virg.
Spouse: Karen Santorum
Previous Political Positions held:
Director of the Pennsylvania Senate’s Local Government Committee (1981-1984)
U.S. House of Representatives member from Pennsylvania’s 18th district (1991-1995)
United States Senator from Pennsylvania (1995-2007)
Previous Employment:
Attorney for Kirkpatrick and Lockhart (1985-1990)
Background
Rick Santorum is the second of three children. His father, Aldo Santorum. immigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven from Rva del Garda, Italy. According to Notable names Database, as an attorney for Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, Santorum won a case on behalf of the World Wrestling Federation to deregulate professional wresting. Santorum argued that they should be exempt from federal anabolic steroid regulations because it was entertainment, not a sport. According to CNN, “Santorum was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990, at age 31, and first elected to the Senate four years later.” Santorum announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential race on June 6, 2011. He currently has 37 delegates out of the 1,144 needed for the nomination.
Key Issues
During a GOP presidential debate in August 2011, Santorum said that he would try to get a bill through that reduced the corporate tax rate to zero for firms that are engaged in manufacturing. Santorum has arguably been the most outspoken candidate on the issue of Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts health care bill. Santorum is against a government-controlled health care system, same-sex marriage as well as abortion. Santorum also wears his religion on his sleeve saying: “I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country.”
Age: 76
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Spouse: Carol Paul
Previous Political Positions held:
U.S. House of Representatives member from Texas’s 22nd district (1976- 1977; 1979-1985)
U.S. House of Representatives member from Texas’s 14th district (1997-present)
Previous Employment:
Ob/Gyn (1968-1996)
Background
Ron Paul is the son of Howard Casper Paul, who was the owner of a small dairy company in Pittsburgh. Paul was a 220-yard dash state champion when he was a junior at Dormont High School. He earned his Doctor of medicine degree from Duke University and went on to start his own private Ob/Gyn practice in Texas. According to CNN, “(Ron) Paul is hoping the third time is the charm.” Paul ran for president in 1988 and in 2008 — both were unsuccessful. Paul has announced that he won’t seek re-election to the House in 2012 so that he can focus on his presidential bid. Over the years, Paul has developed a strong and dedicated following. Paul announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential race on May 13, 2011. He currently has 27 delegates out of the 1,144 needed for the nomination.
Key Issues
According to CNN, “Paul is a longstanding critic of U.S. fiscal and monetary policy.” Paul has said he is in favor of cutting the Federal Reserve all together. Recently (Paul) voted against two bills increasing the U.S. debt ceiling. Paul has also said that he wants to return the U.S. to the gold standard. Paul is against same-sex marriage, but feels that the government should not have a policy on marriage. Paul has said that he has delivered 4,000 babies as an OB/GYN and is completely anti-abortion.
Age: 68
Hometown: Harrisburg, Penn.
Spouse: Callista Bisek
Previous Political Positions held:
U.S. House of Representatives member from Georgia’s 6th district (1979-1999)
U.S. House Representatives Minority Whip (1989-1995)
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker (1995-1999)
Previous Employment:
Has worked as a political consultant
Background
Newt Gingrich’s was raised on a military base where his adopted stepfather Robert Gingrich was stationed. Gingrich was interested in politics from an early age. Before gaining the House Member seat of Georgia’s 6th district in 1979, he ran and lost two previous times. While Gingrich was in Congress, he became known for his aggressive, often combative, style. Gingrich announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential race on May 11, 2011. He currently has 38 delegates out of the 1,144 needed for the nomination.
Key Issues
According to Gingrich’s website, he would like to make the George W. Bush tax cuts permanent. He also would like to eliminate the estate tax and lower the corporate tax rate. During a presidential debate in June 2011, Gingrich said that he supported a law that defined that marriage is between a man and a woman. During the 2012 GOP presidential nomination race, Gingrich has signed an anti-abortion pledge.
