Political nerds like myself cannot help themselves when it comes to any form of contest, it is especially tough when we have a close race to follow.
This is happening south of the 49th parallel right now, so while we wait with bated breath to see what will happen here in Alberta attention turns stateside for guys like me.
Three weeks ago the race for the Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential race against incumbent Barack Obama seemed to be in the bag for Mitt Romney. Romney is the clear establishment candidate and that is not a secret. Well organized, well funded and with many of the big players in Washington firmly in his camp the victory party was already being planned. Then it happened he got beat in the Iowa primary by a guy named Rick Santorum, shocking to many of us. Then as we turn the page to the next chapter of this race what happens, Newt Gingrich wins in South Carolina.
So what is going on? To me it is simple, the people or populous as the politicians love to call us are getting leery of the same old same old. That coupled with a soft approach, and poor campaigning by the Romney team this is a wide open race. Romney has a real problem upcoming as he is not resonating with the Conservative base.
Protecting a lead is the hardest thing to do in politics ask Jim Dinning, and Gary Mar.
The ugly side of politics is the Liberal media, and other opponents trying to make Romney’s Mormon faith an issue. To me this has no place in politics, no more than the attacks against Gingrich this week and his infidelity. Trust me, politicians all have issues, we all do. In fact, I remember a guy named Ralph who used to run things here and he was likely more human than most.
So enter Newt Gingrich a gunslinger who shoots from the lip, he loves Canada and says Prime Minister Stephen Harper is America’s best friend. He defends the Keystone pipeline and will make sure it happens, so from my perspective he isn’t a bad choice on these two political stands alone.
On the stump no one is better and his intellectual wit is unparalleled. I enjoy his perspective on policy and he best represents my core beliefs. Again not without flaws as a human, but if we wanted a puritan the Mayflower hasn’t sailed since 1623 so we had better adapt.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has also won a primary, but it is unknown if this social conservative will make it as he is indeed is a long shot. His stand on abortion and gay marriage may resonate with the evangelicals in the GOP so we will have to see how he fairs in the Florida primaries. Early polling puts him behind the likes of Ron Paul and the two front-runners.
I also like Ron Paul as he is certainly onside with my Libertarian roots, unfortunately, he just doesn’t have the horses to get him across the finish line. Refreshing as his policies are he is a protest candidate who will likely move the Republicans back to their Conservative roots if nothing else.
I think it is important to take notice of the unrest within society when it comes to the establishment, this is apparent with movements like the Tea Party as well as the Occupiers. Two completely separate and polar opposite views but a real representation of the thirst for change within North American culture.
To me the angry Republicans, and Tea Party types will be looking for strong conservative values, and to this point the momentum is behind Gingrich. However, are the pundits right? Will Obama have an easy time beating a Gingrich? We will see.
