I am pleased with the rest of the field. Here's where I stand on them:
Rick Santorum looks pretty good on economic issues. Strong on Welfare Reform, taxes, tax cuts, balanced budget amendment, and Social Security, but weak because of his love of spending earmarks, support of large government expansions like Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, and trade protectionism. He'd be a good President and would probably drive America in a pro-growth direction. He's obviously a solid social conservative. I could vote for him if he became the candidate.
Newt Gingrich has become my least favorite Republican candidate lately. I really wanted him to run and I was excited when he joined the race. He's been killer in the debates. He's very smart. He knows as much about politics and Washington and history as anyone who has run for President in my lifetime. BUT (and, yes, that is a big butt), the way he has attacked the other candidates and most recently, the way he's beat up on Romney, I've lost a little (okay, a lot of) love for Newton. Don't get me wrong. I think questions have to be asked of all of the candidates and those questions need to be hard and probing, but I am a FIRM believer in Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment..."Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Mainly because of that, I'm a bit bummed with Newt at this time, but I'd vote for him if he became the candidate.
Finally, Mitt Romney. Like Reagan, Romney has become more conservative over time. He has moved from supporting the laws regarding abortion to being against them. He has moved away from his more moderate or even liberal positions to solid conservative positions. No one flinches when democrats move from, say, anti-abortion to pro-abortion, like Al Gore, but conservatives just don't seem to believe republicans when they move towards more conservative positions. I believe anyone can grow and learn and, yes, change their positions.
Mitt is my choice. I think he can lead us out of this economic morass that we've slogged in over the last decade. He has committed to cutting taxes and, more importantly, cutting spending. He has committed to overturning ObamaCare. I like his positions. I hope he's our Presidential Candidate. I will vote for him if he's our candidate.
