Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told reporters in January 2010, "I think I'm probably on a list
of seven or eight possible (2012 presidential) candidates at this stage." Gingrich also said that he
would make a decision about his own political future in 2011 and after discussing the prospect of a
presidential bid with his wife.

Newt Gingrich is clearly qualified for the position of President of the United States and is viewed
as an insightful and shrewd, issue-oriented conservative.  He served 20 years in the US House of
Representative and stepped down as Speaker of the House in 1999 under the pressure of fellow House
Republicans.  Gingrich had been criticized as divisiveness and a polarizing figure within his own
party and nationally alike.  He has been married three times and has frequently been accused of
extramarital affairs.

Newt Gingrich re-entered the political scene in 2009 as a commentator for cable news shows and is
currently speaking in states that are politically important to Republican candidates in the 2012
presidential primary. According to Federal Election Commission records, Gingrich recently filed
paperwork to form a political action committee, named 'American Solutions' Political Action
Committee.  This political organization, incorporated as a 527 group, will allow Gingrich to raise
cash and donate the money to federal and state candidates nationwide. It could also be a sign that
Gingrich is serious about his presidential candidacy in 2012.

Gingrich recently stated, "We have a lot of people around the country who would like to have
somebody who represents a commitment to replace the current failed programs and to develop a set of
solutions that are practical and workable."

Mike Huckabee is the perfect example of what a conservative republican candidate should stand for
and a large portion of social conservatives still support him. Huckabee is a staunch opponent of gay
marriage, gun control, racism and antisemitism.

Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas who claimed victory in the 2008 Iowa Caucus but
ultimately finished second to John McCain in the 2008 republican primaries nomination.  He was
ridiculed for his reluctance to bow out of the race even as it was evident that he could not win. 
Following the loss he was quoted as saying "I'm not ruling anything out for the future, but I'm not
making any specific plans".

In late November 2009, Mike Huckabee said that a 2012 presidential bid "is less likely rather than
more likely just because I would have to see that the Republicans would be willing to unite behind
me." He also says it's far too early to say what he will do and that the November 2010 congressional
election results will affect his decision. 

Mike Huckabee has a strong showing in the extremely early 2012 election polls.  According to most
of the popular network and cable news polls, Huckabee is leading amongst Republicans and has the
strongest showing when matched against Barack Obama.  

Another consideration for his 2012 nomination bid, according to Huckabee, is the status of his
weekly TV show on Fox News Channel and it seems as though Mike is happy at the moment by spreading
his word through this national platform.

Sarah Palin gained international recognition upon her selection by John McCain as the 2008
Republican vice presidential nominee.  In the past year Palin has become immensely popular among a
large portion of the GOP base.  Her new book, 'Going Rogue: An American Life', sold more than 1
million copies in the first two weeks and has topped the New York Times best-seller list since late
November 2009.

In February 2010, Palin said she would run in 2012 "if I believed that that is the right thing to
do for our country and for the Palin family."  Palin has also gone on the attack saying that
potential 2012 contender Mike Huckabee made a "horrible decision" nine years ago when granting
clemency to the man suspected in the killing of four police officers in Washington State on November
29th, 2009.  She is also weighing in on nearly all Obama initiatives and voicing her opposition at
every opportunity.

While Palin possesses huge star power among Republican conservatives, a recent ABC News/Washington
Post poll shows that six in 10 Americans view her as unqualified for the job of President in 2012. 
This is a sharp drop from Palin?s 6 in 10 approval rate peak in November 2008 but has remained
basically unchanged in the past year.  Additionally, her July 4th, 2009 'resignation without
explanation' as governor of Alaska before completing her first term and her stumbles on policy
matters, especially foreign relations, have led to numerous attacks.

Nonetheless, Sarah Palin is a force that the Republican Party must reckon with.  She has
effectively used social media and has tapped into the Republican base.  Unlike her male
counterparts, she faces stereotypical assumptions that she's not tough enough and dismissive
attitudes about her qualifications and intellect. She is however going to be the rallying point for
conservative Republicans in the 2012 elections.  

Following the major roles of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton in the 2008 race, the election of our
first female president does not seem too far off.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that he would not seek a third term as Minnesota's
governor in 2010. He has also filed paperwork with federal regulators to form the 'Freedom First'
Political Action Committee.  These acts have led to widespread speculation that Timothy Pawlenty is
eyeing the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Pawlenty was co-chairman of the 2008 McCain presidential campaign and reported to have been
seriously considered by John McCain as a potential running mate.  More recently, Pawlenty is
speaking with various political groups, campaigning for various candidates and boosted his national
profile after being elected vice-chair of the Republican Governors Association.  

Pawlenty, in contrast to the wealthy image of Republicans, has a blue-collar background and has
twice been voted governor in the Democratic state of Minnesota, broadening the party's geographic
appeal to the North.  Although Pawlenty has played down the speculation of a 2012 presidential run,
expect to see more of him in the near future, most probably in battleground states such as Iowa, New
Hampshire and South Carolina.

Mitt Romney is considered by many in the Republican Party to be the front-runner for the 2012
nomination although his 2008 presidential campaign collapsed after a second-place caucus finish to
Mike Huckabee in Iowa, a state in which Romney had been considered strong.  Romney, a Harvard
graduate and longtime venture capitalist is revered for his financial knowledge.  Many believe that
Mitt Romney is the most qualified candidate to help the now struggling US economy.

The former Massachusetts governor has just announced the March 2 release of his newest book, 'No
Apology: The Case for American Greatness' and will strike out on a 18 state national book tour.  The
tour includes his third trip to Iowa, an early battleground state, since the 2008 election. Romney
will also visit the early GOP primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The title of the new book refers to what Romney describes as President Obama's pattern of
apologizing for American behavior in speeches abroad, such as his conciliatory speech in Cairo over
the summer to the Muslim world.  Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney spokesman said, "The book is more than a
critique of the Obama presidency.  The book itself is primarily forward-looking."

It does in fact seem as though Mitt Romney is forward-looking to the 2012 republican nomination.
Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President Bush and 2008 Republican nominee John McCain stated,
"Romney is playing things very methodically and deliberatively.  I think he understands the physics
of this game very well now and is carefully calibrating his approach to 2012."

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