The Grand Old Party (GOP), as the Republican Party is sometimes referred to, can trace its roots back to the United States Democratic-Republican Party, a breakaway faction of the ruling Federalist Party of the late eighteenth century. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and subsequently, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, triggered an internal revolt within the Democratic-Republic Party. A breakaway faction led by anti-slavery activist Alvan Earl Bovay and Thaddeus Stevens officially announced the formation of the Republican Party on July 6, 1854. Its rise to power was swift, as typified by Abraham Lincoln's victory in the 1860 presidential election, barely four years after the Party fielded its first ever candidate in a national election. Since then, the Party has had another 17 presidents, serving a total of 88 years.
The Party boasts of 55 million registered voters, the second largest in the country, and is known as an advocate of American conservatism, espousing the role of religion, nationalism and economics at its core.
Former Republican Presidents: Lincoln (1861-1865), Grant (1869-1877), Hayes (1877-1881), Garfield (1881), Arthur (1881-1885), Harrison (1889-1893), McKinley (1897-1901), T. Roosevelt (1901-1909), Taft (1909-1913), Harding (1921-1923), Coolidge (1923-1929), Hoover (1929-1933), Eisenhower (1953-1961), Nixon (1969-1974), Ford (1974-1977), Reagan (1981-1989), Bush, H (1989-1993), Bush, W (2001-2009)
In a race that is turning out to be increasingly anticlimactic despite its early-season promise, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney predictably won last night’s primaries in Oregon and Nebraska, his 32nd and 33rd victory of the nomination race.
With ten states to go (nine primaries and one caucus), the former Massachusetts governor is comfortably poised to overtake Senator John McCain’s 2008 tally of 37 wins and equal former president George W. Bush’s 2000 tally of 43. This is indeed a remarkable turnaround for a candidate long thought to be a divisive figure in the race and lacking an across the board appeal to regular Republicans.
Nevertheless, Mr. Romney can ill afford to take his foot off the pedal, considering he may be facing a challenge that none of his recent predecessors may have encountered. The Ron Paul campaign, despite the self-made PR disaster of the past couple days, remain an uncertain but credible threat to Mr. Romney’s scheduled coronation in Tampa this coming August. Remarks made yesterday by Mr. Jesse Benton, Dr. Paul’s campaign strategist, indicated that they may have in excess of 300 delegates going to the convention. While the figure is far from enough to prevent Mr. Romney from being declared the party’s nominee, it certainly would grant Dr. Paul with a fair amount of attention at the convention.
The race will resume on May 22 in the Arkansas and Kentucky primaries.
Fred Karger, one of the shrewdest Republican political operators of the past three decades, announced the formation of his 2012 Exploratory Committee on July 18, 2010, making him the first ever openly gay aspirant for the presidency. Despite being a lifelong Republican, the 61-year old Karger will be running on an independent ticket. His campaign was hit with a sucker punch when he was locked out of the Carolina Republican Party Presidential Debate of May 5, with the organizers citing his low poll numbers as the reason.
The 45-year old Indiana-born mother of three believes in the need for the neutrality of a presidential candidate. However, she realizes that under the current political system, the deck is stacked against any independent running for the office, which explains her reason for registering her candidacy under the Republican banner. Lane also believes that her status as a non-career politician, coupled with her first-hand experience in the private sector, makes her uniquely suited for the job.
The self-professed People’s Attorney General and Internet Powerhouse is famously remembered as the source of the chain mail and online reports questioning the citizenship of President Obama and the claim that he was a Muslim. The 66-year old Martin filed his papers as a candidate for the next presidential election on Feb 8, and was quoted two weeks later saying, “Obama
plays for keeps. He plays rough, and that's the only way to beat him, and I'm the only one that is
tough enough to do that."
The former mayoral, gubernatorial and senatorial candidate for the Rent Is Too Damn High Party announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on December last year. Explaining his decision not to contest the Democratic nomination, a party he was formerly registered with, karate expert McMillan was quoted as saying "the rent is too damn high." The flamboyant Vietnam veteran also gave some words of advice to President Obama, “If you don’t do your job right, I am coming at you!"
Tom Miller feels that the country is being destroyed from within chiefly through a series of failed fiscal and immigration policies; a state of affair brought forth by an entrenched political elite. Miller sees himself as a representative of the people, as envisioned by the Founding Fathers themselves, and offers a solution-based approach to tackle the multitude of issues facing the nation. Ultimately, he hopes to re-empower the American people around the concept of small government.
The former medical doctor officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination on May 13, 2011. The 75-year old Texas Congressman will once again center his campaign on the theme of liberty, human rights and financial market reforms. With his small but vocal pockets of supporters spread all over the country, the Libertarian leaning Republican is set to be one of the most controversial characters on the campaign trail.
John McCain's defeat to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election signaled the reemergence of the former Massachusetts Governor as a serious contender, and clear favorite, for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
The Harvard man has been comfortably leading almost every poll since then. He was knocked off his perch for about two months by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, during the summer of 2011. However, he has since recovered and has once again returned to his seat at the top of the leader board. And unless Perry, Cain, Huntsman, Bachmann and company can pull something out of their collective hats, the liberal turned conservative turned moderate former venture capitalist may just walk through the primaries. While his ideology and personal beliefs may be subject to debate, his knack for business is beyond question – and his across the board appeal makes him a dangerous opponent for President Obama.
Matthew Bradley Snyder is a supporter of people, not parties. He believes in the passion that stirs the heart of the common man. It is not political ambition, but personal experience, that enflames that passion. A president should exude it, not emulate it. Snyder is a true representative of the people.
Wuensche ran for President in 2008, garnering a tenth place finish in both the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, despite spending only $36,000. In 100 days, the owner of Houston’s third oldest construction company, visited over 6,000 local businesses and churches in 242 towns in both states.
He believes that businesses survive and thrive chiefly through the caliber of those who runs them and thus, these executives are perfectly qualified for a public office shorn of proven management experience
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from Minnesota
Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann, the three terms Minnesota Congresswoman, is the current chair of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus. The attractive Iowan finished first in the August 2011 Straw Poll but saw her fortune quickly plummet following the entry of Texas Governor, Rick Perry, into the race. The resignation of deputy campaign manager, David Polyansky, and the redeployment of campaign manager Ed Rollins into a consulting role told us that all was not well in the Bachmann camp.
Following her disappointing numbers in the January 3rd Iowa caucuses, Rep. Michele Bachmann announced that she giving up her bid for the 2012 Republican nominee for president. She stated the following day, "Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, and so I have decided to stand aside."
"I have no regrets," she added. "None whatsoever. We never compromised our principles." She added that she "looks forward to the next chapter in God's plan."
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman, Politician & Media
Herman Cain
Cancer survivor, YouTube sensation and former mathematician with the US Navy, Herman Cain has a résumé that demanded our attention. His experience on all three major fronts of American politics - corporate, legislative and media – through his stellar career at Pillsbury, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (as chairman) and as the host of WSB’s "The Herman Cain Show" in Atlanta, nearly guaranteed that the articulate Republican wouldn't face questions of credibility.
Cain's rise in popularity was reversed within weeks by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and the acknowledgment that he made a series of payments to a friend, Ginger Winter, without his wife's knowledge. Winter claims the two had a 13-year affair.
Herman Cain announced his suspension from the 2012 race, in dramatic fashion, on December 3rd 2011 in Atlanta. It was the day he was supposed to have opened his official campaign headquarters in Georgia.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
After a 13-year absence from mainstream politics, Newton Leroy Gingrich made a dramatic return to politics by announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in May 2011. His campaign unfortunately began under a torrent of criticisms following his controversial statements on Medicare and a perceived attack of fellow Republican Paul Ryan’s budget proposal. Nevertheless, Gingrich, a fighter and above all, a consummate politician, recovered and briefly surged to the top of the leader board towards the end of 2011. He officially withdrew from the race on May 2, 2012.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Utah and Ambassador to China
Jon Huntsman
The 51-year old former Governor of Utah officially announced his much-anticipated entry into the presidential race, with the Statue of Liberty spectacularly serving as the backdrop. The highly rated and charismatic Republican technocrat was considered by many in Washington as one of most dangerous dark horses in the race, and one of the few capable of unseating President Obama.
His conservative message, perhaps overshadowed by his stint as Chinese ambassador for the Obama administration, never picked up steam. Following his disappointing results in New Hampshire and garnering only 1% support in South Carolina polls, Jon Huntsman announced his withdrawal on January 16th 2012. Huntsman threw his support behind Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from Michigan
Thad McCotter
The lead guitarist for the New Flying Squirrels, who incidentally is also a five-term Representative for Michigan’s 11th District, filed his papers for the 2012 US Presidential Elections with the FEC on July 1, 2011, and formally announce the news during the WAAM Freedom Festival at Whitmore Lake the following day.
His long-shot campaign for the GOP nomination never gained traction. On September 22, he ended his campaign and threw his endorsement to fellow candidate Mitt Romney.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Minnesota
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James Pawlenty, the former two-term governor of Minnesota, is renowned for his ability to connect with the masses. His middle-class background lends him an earthy appeal to the average Joes, not unlike the warm Texan drawl of former president George W. Bush. His time in Minnesota is typified by his focus on grassroots issues, tackling subjects that affect them and their future. However, he announced his withdrawal from the presidential nomination race following a disappointing third-place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll, a state he has unofficially campaigned in for the past year.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Current Governor of Texas
Rick Perry
After almost two years of uncertainty, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s wall of resistance has crumbled. Perry took advantage of the publicity generated by the Ames Straw Poll and announced his entry into the Republican nomination race in Charleston, South Carolina, with a confident declaration, "I full well believe I'm going to win". His candidacy is expected to reinvigorate the hitherto subdued Republican evangelical grassroots, and inject some excitement into the contest.
Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former US Senator from Pennsylvania
Rick Santorum
The former two-term senator from Pennsylvania officially announced his entry into the GOP Presidential nomination race on June 6, 2011, symbolically launching his campaign at the Somerset County Courthouse, located not far from the coal mine where his grandfather first worked after arriving from Italy. Despite his dismal poll numbers, Santorum is confident of gaining grounds on early favorite Mitt Romney and warns, "We are going to be in this race, and we're in it to win."
In a race that is turning out to be increasingly anticlimactic despite its early-season promise, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney predictably won last night’s primaries in Oregon and Nebraska, his 32nd and 33rd victory of the nomination race. 
Nevertheless, Mr. Romney can ill afford to take his foot off the pedal, considering he may be facing a challenge that none of his recent predecessors may have encountered. The Ron Paul campaign, despite the self-made PR disaster of the past couple days, remain an uncertain but credible threat to Mr. Romney’s scheduled coronation in Tampa this coming August. Remarks made yesterday by Mr. Jesse Benton, Dr. Paul’s campaign strategist, indicated that they may have in excess of 300 delegates going to the convention. While the figure is far from enough to prevent Mr. Romney from being declared the party’s nominee, it certainly would grant Dr. Paul with a fair amount of attention at the convention.
