The 2012 GOP Candidates

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Current News About Bachmann

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Bachmann, a Republican born in 1956, has represented Minnesota's 6th Congressional District since 2007. CNN reported on March 24 that Bachmann will form a presidential exploratory committee by June.

Bachmann is a vocal supporter of the conservative Tea Party movement and founder of the U.S. House Tea Party Caucus.

Bachmann is a prolific fund-raiser, having raised more than $13.5 million during the 2010 election cycle -- the most among all House candidates. She also operates a leadership PAC, Michele PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised more than $637,000 and spent more than $444,000.

Before being elected to the U.S. House, Bachman served in the Minnesota State Senate from 2001 to 2007. From OpenSecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion on Michele Bachmann as Potential Candidate

Haley Barbour (Republican, Mississippi)
Status: Not Running

Herman Cain (Republican, Georgia)
Status: Officially Running

Links:

Official Website

- Bio

- Wikipedia

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Current News About Cain

Cain, a Republican born in 1945, is a radio talk show host, syndicated columnist and Fox Business News contributor who formed a presidential exploratory committee in January 2011.

In 2004, Cain ran for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, losing in a Republican primary. He has previously worked as chief executive of Godfather's Pizza and is a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. From OpenSecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion on Herman Cain as Potential Candidate

Mitch Daniels (Republican, Indiana)
Status: Not Running

Newt Gingrich (Republican, Georgia)
Status: Officially Running

Links:

Official Website

American Solutions Website

Campaign Financing Summary History

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Current News About Gingrich

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Gingrich, a Republican born in 1943, is a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving in that capacity from 1995 to 1999. Gingrich represented Georgia's 6th Congressional District in the House from 1979 to 1999.

On March 3, Gingrich announced that he is "seriously" considering running for president and launched a new website to explore the possibility. The day before, Fox News had suspended Gingrich as a paid contributor, citing his probable presidential run.

Since leaving elected office, Gingrich has worked as a news analyst, commentator and author. He also maintained his status as a political leader -- albeit an unelected one -- having in 2007 founded the 527 organization American Solutions for Winning the Future, which advocates conservative principles. It has raised $52 million since its inception through the end of 2010. From OpenSecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Newt Gingrich as Potential Candidate

Mike Huckabee (Republican, Arkansas)
Status: Not Running

Jon Huntsman, Jr. (Republican, Utah)
Status: Possible

Links:

US State Department Website

Horizon PAC

Current News About Huntsman

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Huntsman, a Republican born in 1960, is a former Utah governor (2005-2009) and ambassador to China (2009-2011) under the Obama administration. He is also a former ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush.

Huntsman, on Jan. 31, 2011, announced his intent to resign his ambassadorial post by April. He has not confirmed he'll run for president, but Huntsman associates widely believe he's considering a bid. From OpenSecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Jon Huntsman, Jr. as Potential Candidate

Sarah Palin (Republican, Alaska)
Status: Possible

Links:

SaraPAC

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Current News About Palin

Palin, a Republican born in 1964, was the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee. She also served as governor of Alaska between 2006 and 2009.

Upon resigning her state's governorship in 2009, Palin has written two books, toured the nation speaking about politics and works as a news commentator for Fox News. She has also starred in her own reality television show on The Learning Channel.

Palin maintains an active political action committee, SarahPAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised $5.7 million and spent $4.4 million.

Her previous political experience includes serving as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, from 1996 to 2002, and as chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. She made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor in 2002. From Opensecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Sarah Palin as Potential Candidate

Ron Paul (Republican, Texas)
Status: Officially Running

Links:

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Current News About Ron Paul

Paul, a Republican born in 1935, ran for president in 2008 but failed to win the GOP nomination. Despite spirited support from backers who sent him $35 million, largely through Internet "money bombs," Paul did not win a Republican primary or caucus contest.

Paul continues to in the U.S. House of Representatives, easily winning re-election in 2010. As a member of Congress, he operates a leadership PAC, named Liberty PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised more than $186,000 and spent more than $286,000.

Paul has served three stints in the House: 1976 to 1977, 1979 to 1985 and 1997 to the present. He ran for president in 1988 as a Libertarian Party candidate, placing third overall in the popular vote with more than 432,000 votes -- about 0.5 percent of all ballots cast. He also made an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 1984. From Opensecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Ron Paul as Potential Candidate

Tim Pawlenty (Republican, Minnesota)
Status: Officially Running

Links:

Campaign Website 2012

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Current News About Pawlenty

Mitt Romney Revolution Website

Pawlenty, a Republican born in 1960, is the former governor of Minnesota, serving in that capacity from 2003 to January 2011. He also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, with those final four years spent working as Republican majority leader.

Pawlenty, in a March 21 video posted on Facebook, said he was "announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States."

Although considered as a potential vice presidential candidate during 2008, GOP nominee John McCain selected then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Since then, Pawlenty has written a book and made regular visits to key presidential battleground states such as Iowa.

Pawlenty also maintains an active federal political action committee, the Freedom First PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised $3.4 million and spent $3.2 million. From Opensecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Tim Pawlenty as Potential Candidate

Mitt Romney (Republican, Massachusetts)
Status: Officially Running

Links:

PAC Believe in America

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Current News About Romney

Romney, a Republican born in 1947, unsuccessfully ran for president in 2008. On April 11, he announced that he would form a presidential exploratory committee, saying that "President Obama's policies have failed … it's time we put America back on a course of greatness."

Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts, serving in that capacity from 2003 to 2007.

Early as it may be, some political watchers consider Romney an early front-runner for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, having easily won a New Hampshire Republican Party straw poll in January 2011. Romney has maintained an active political action committee, the Free and Strong America PAC, which raised $9.1 million and spent $8.7 million during the 2010 election cycle.

During his 2008 presidential bid, Romney was a prolific fund-raiser, collecting more than $107 million -- second only to the ultimate GOP nominee, John McCain. But winning the money race wasn't enough to win his party's favor. Romney dropped out of the race after disappointing Super Tuesday results in February, when McCain solidified his position as the party's frontrunner. In all, Romney won 11 primaries or caucuses during the 2008 presidential election.

Romney raised $88.5 million in 2007 alone, but $35.4 million of that came from his own pocket: He amassed a fortune estimated to be worth as much as $250 million as a former chief executive of a management consulting firm and co-founder of a private equity investment. Romney spent more than any other candidate on advertising in the early primary states during 2008, but his message didn't seem to resonate as well as his campaign had hoped.

Romney's political career also includes an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 1994, during which he lost to Democratic incumbent Ted Kennedy. From Opensecrets.org

Join an Open Discussion Mitt Romney as Potential Candidate

Rick Santorum (Republican, Pennsylvania)
Status: Exploring

Links:

PAC America's Foundation

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Current News About Santorum