By Toby Amodeo

The race for the Republican nomination is heating up across America as conservatives try to rally and defeat Barack Obama in the coming 2012 election. A divided party and a sensitive American public are proving to be major stumbling blocks for many of the candidates.

Mitt Romney, however, shows signs of jumping ahead in the race. The Romney campaign received a major boost on January sixteenth, when presidential-hopeful Jon Huntsman ended his campaign and urged his supporters to turn to Romney. Romney also has won both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary and looked to seal in his nomination with another win in South Carolina. Romney appears to take a hard line on party issues, yet opponents such as Newt Gingrich have raised concerns about the Massachusetts governor. Romney’s naysayers say he supported the national healthcare bill known as “Obamacare” and introduced a similar program in Massachusetts. However, Romney has an extensive record in the private sector of cutting wasteful spending, and many conservatives hope he will do the same in the national government, a government with a major imbalance of trade and a deficit larger than the GDP of several first world nations. Many see Romney as a conservative willing to compromise, a more centered politician rather than a right wing extremist.

In stark contrast to Romney is Ron Paul. Ron Paul tends towards the far right, teetering on the libertarian side of minimal government. Paul has run for president three times, and each time has attracted the support of those at his end of the political spectrum. But this election season appears to be different. With a president perceived as being so far to the left, many Americans feel the next president needs to be equally far to the right, to balance out the so-called excesses of the Obama administration. Paul placed second in the Iowa caucus, and appeared to have an edge in South Carolina (ending with another strong showing), a historically radical state and supporter of states’ rights. Paul won the crucial endorsement of South Carolina senator Tom Davis, and appeals to the ‘tea party’ voters for his conservative ideology. Yet reports of wasteful spending on his campaign and travel coupled with liberal and moderate fears of a radical could prove detrimental to Paul’s campaign.

Further back in the pack now is Rick Santorum, former Senator. Santorum is possibly the most religious candidate, with a history of supporting acts such as the Workplace Religious Freedom Act. He appeals to many southern voters due to his emphasis on family and religion, but many northern voters feel he takes these principles too far in to a government separated from the church. Santorum attacked Romney in the recent South Carolina debate, showing the next trend of the race. In an attempt to slow the momentum of Romney, candidates have lobbed various attacks at the race’s leader.

Newt Gingrich, also possibly feeling the pinch of a divided party, reported he was in a “statistical tie” with Romney in South Carolina, according to an Insider Advantage poll released on the twelfth. Gingrich promises to protect the taxpayers, boasting of his successful passage of a balanced budget, as well as his successes in Congress, winning a Republican majority with his “Contract with America” plan earlier in his career. But he may lack the support to defeat “Moderate Mitt,” especially given his personal record, filled with allegations of cheating on his wife. Americans have been hesitant to elect a leader with infidelity in his background due to the near celebrity status placed on the candidates. Americans can see every aspect of the candidates’ personal lives, and often make judgments based on this information. However, Gingrich has recently been surging, winning the South Carolina primary and enjoying greater support across the nation, particularly due to his stout Republicanism. Voters see him as concerned only with the issues, after he denounced the moderators at the South Carolina debate for opening up with a question about his ex-wife’s allegations. An endorsement from former GOP contender Rick Perry earlier this week will surely help his campaign, both by narrowing the field and potentially pushing voters in Gingrich’s political camp. Gingrich possesses a wealth of political experience, especially in his time as fifty-eighth Speaker of the House, a traditional stepping stone position to the presidency. Gingrich was also instrumental in his formation of the “Contract with America,” a Republican plan of action after retaking control of Congress in 1994.

For all of the differences between the various GOP candidates, there are some unifying themes. All seek to defeat Barack Obama, further the rights of the American people, reduce governmental spending, and restore the prestige of the United States by force or diplomacy. Nearly all are beginning to degrade into the mudslinging stage of the campaign trail, calling each other “liars” and attempting to call attention to the faults of the others. The trail to the White House will be very difficult for the Republicans if they cannot agree on a candidate as potential votes will be split, giving the Democrats a numerical advantage. Ultimately, it is up to the people as primary season carries on electing the next GOP candidate in 2012.