The 57th quadrennial United States Presidential Election 2012

Will Barack Obama continue in his office after November 6, 2012 Presidential election? Will the Democrats be able to retain their position in the White House? Will Republican candidate defeat the Democratic candidate? Will an independent candidate this time win the US Presidential election leaving both Republicans and Democrats behind? These are the popular questions circulating in the US society for weeks, which possibly will continue till the election result is made public on November 7, 2012. While most of the so-called mainstream media will start covering issues related to the US Presidential Election 2012 after several weeks, if not months, we in Weekly Blitz want to lead the trail. We have been publishing articles on this issue for quite some weeks and welcome articles, opinions and comments from the writers or readers or supporters, who are willing to write something about their favorite candidate. And of course, like those so-called mainstreams, we are not habituated in ignoring any of the candidates and shall be giving equal importance and exposures to each of the candidates of the US Presidential Election 2012. Campaign offices or the Presidential candidates can also send Public Relations [PR] materials to: ediblitz [at] yahoo [dot] com.

The 57th quadrennial United States Presidential Election will be held on November 6, 2012, and barring a catastrophic final year run, it will be expected to feature the incumbent, President Barack Obama for the Democrats, against a yet to be decided Republican candidate and the increasingly obligatory independent candidate.

The Presidential Election, which would also see the appointment of a Vice President, will commence with nationwide state level primaries and caucuses beginning February 6, 2012 in Iowa and ending on June 5, 2012 in Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. The five-month process will culminate with the Republican and Democratic Party convention that will be held on August 27-30, 2012 and September 3-6, 2012 respectively.

US political analyst commenting on the 2012 Presidential election say, "As the mood of the nation continues to falter in the face of rising unemployment figures, a runaway national debt and the almost comical posturing by politicians from both sides of the divide, the significance of the Presidential Election has taken an added significance. Do we give President Obama his second term to reap the projected returns of his policies, or should we wipe the slate clean and bring the Republicans back into power again in the hope that this time, things will be different?"

Of course, there is the nagging question of who the Republicans will elect to spearhead their offensive against the President, in view of the fact that most of the favored candidates are intent on maintaining their wait-and-see strategy.

Here my readers will be able to find a list of the declared candidates for the 2012 US Presidential Election. We acknowledge with thanks a website named 2012 Presidential Candidates, from which the following materials are taken:

Stewart Alexander – Declared 2012 PFP & Socialist Presidential Candidate:

Virginian born Stewart Alexis Alexander is the perfect model of a concerned citizen. An average American turned political activist, the cleaning company owner and "automobile sales consultant" (as his filings for California's 2006 Lieutenant Governor elections showed), is also the Chairperson for the Socialist Party of California as well as the Executive Director of the African American Civil Liberties Union.

Alexander, who once served as a reserve in US Air Force March Joint Air Reserve Base, will be participating in his fourth top-tier election following defeats in Los Angeles Mayoral (1989), California's Lieutenant Governorship (2006), American Vice-President (2008) and California's gubernatorial (2010) elections. His first brush with politics was back in a very non-Orwellian 1984, when he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nominee, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

However, it was his time spent as host of a talk show on KTYM Radio in Los Angeles that probably gave him the final push to make the giant leap into competitive politics. The years spent listening to the cry of the masses and the perennial problems of the proletariat may have been the trigger behind Alexander's decision to enter the 1989 Los Angeles mayoral election.

The father of two (including a stepson from his second marriage) is at the very heart of it, an idealistic, left leaning, middle class American; and as befitting his political ideology, the Murrieta resident will center his campaign on worker's rights and civil support infrastructure.

Michele Bachmann – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Tea Party darling, the 55-year old Michele Bachmann is renowned for her straight talking and often, controversial stances. Her incredible fund raising ability will come in handy now that she has decided to take the plunge for the GOP presidential nomination. She raised an astounding $13 million for her 2010 reelection campaign, no small feat for a House election.

Her candidacy suffered a huge setback earlier this year with her speech in the Iowans For Tax Relief event last January, where her questionable reinterpretation of facts involving slavery, the constitution and our founding fathers drew flak from just about everyone outside the Republican Party. Her subsequent televised response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, in her capacity as the Congressional Tea Party chair, also met with lukewarm reception, with a few senior party figures voicing their displeasure at her apparent attempt to draw attention away from Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was selected to provide the official party response.

However, true to form, Bachmann responded in style with a rousing speech to 11,000 Republicans attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on February 9. Her ability to rally the grassroots and the conservative base of the party ensures that Bachmann will continue to hold a significant influence in the eventual outcome of the nomination race.

Bachmann shone in the New Hampshire GOP Presidential Debate recently with a polished, confident and articulate display. She appeared to have elevated her usual fiery and aggressive delivery to another level, and under the able hand of veteran Republican strategist, Edward Rollins, the former Reagan National Campaign Director in the 80's, Bachmann suddenly has established herself with the leading pack of the race. While she still has some way to go before catching up with Romney, Palin and Giuliani (yes, Giuliani), her conservative power base is fully capable of giving the time she needs to get some traction in her campaign.

More information is available at the official website of Michele Bachman.

Herman Cain – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

As soon as news broke in January 2011 that 65-year old former pizza baron, Herman Cain, had launched a presidential exploratory committee, the first question in the minds of most political pundits was: Does Cain possesses the requisite political pedigree to last the distance, never mind to win the actual race? After all, despite being a high-flying executive in the corporate world, as well as a much-respected figure in the Republican speaking circuit, Cain's single attempt for public office came in 2004 when he contested the Republican Party's nomination for the Georgia Senate seat. He was soundly defeated by Congressman Johnny Isakson by a margin of 27 points.

Of course, things are different now. Following a grueling 40-city Tea Party rally in 2010, Cain finished second behind Ron Paul in a straw poll conducted among Tea Party activists during a summit held at downtown Phoenix last February. Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, his other potential opponents for the Republican nomination, came in third and fifth respectively in the poll.

Cain, a devout Christian from a middle class upbringing, typify the American rags to riches story. His father held three jobs, and his mother worked as a maid, just to put Cain through school. He did not disappoint them, excelling in his studies and earning his degree in Mathematics from Morehouse College, before obtaining his MSc in Computer Science from Purdue while working for the US Navy.

The politics of Cain is like the man himself; grounded, pragmatic and conservative, for he is after all, as he likes to point out, an ABC (American Black Conservative). He favors a return to the gold standard, small government and free enterprise. A confident and articulate speaker, Cain would be a formidable opponent in any debate, and his lack of political experience means he has no baggage to worry about.

Official website of Herman Cain.

Roger Gary – Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate:

Registered on May 16, 2011 with the FEC to run for President in 2012, Roger Gary has been a Libertarian since 1977 and has served his home state of Texas as an elected official for his party. In 1993, he was elected to the San Antonio River Authority where he served as Director. In 2010, Gary placed third as a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission in a four-way race with 139, 978 votes – more votes than the Texas gubernatorial candidate received.

Serving as State Chair of the Libertarian Party for Texas, Roger V. Gary has stated that he prefers to campaign at the local and state levels. He hopes in running for Libertarian candidate for president that he can bring positive attention and more voters to understand Libertarian principles and to join the party.

Newt Gingrich – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives was once one of the brightest stars of the Republican Party. Together with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Gingrich masterminded the Contract with America campaign that saw the Republicans wresting control of the House from the Democrats for the first time in 40 years. He became the de facto head of the party and led the Republicans with a no-holds barred and bruising approach against the Clinton-led Democrats that at one stage, even saw the federal government shutting down. However, his abrasive style eventually saw him losing control of the House, and he resigned from his position as Speaker under threat of mutiny.

Yet, those who believe that Gingrich is a spent force and belongs to another era of partisan politics should do some quick rethinking, preferably with a calculator close by. In the one year period between 2009 to 2010, Gingrich raised a total of $32 million for his then undecided campaign; a figure which is more than ALL of his fellow Republican presidential aspirants - combined - managed to amass. The 67-year old may have burnt many bridges in Washington during his time there, but he remains one of the most recognizable Republican figures in the country, and in the absence of a nationally recognized Republican candidate (barring Romney and Palin), this may very well become a deciding factor.

The intellectual Gingrich, who has spent the majority of the past decade writing semi-historical works of fiction, is known as an out-of-the box thinker, and is perfectly capable of standing toe-to-toe with the cerebral President Obama. His grasps on most of the issues affecting the country is second to none, although, there are concerns that his position sometimes appears to shift in concert with prevailing public sentiments. He is also a very formidable opponent in a debate, a fact that many would willingly attest to. The thought of a debate involving Gingrich, fellow Republican Ron Paul and President Obama has left many salivating at the prospects.

However, Gingrich continues to be saddled with baggage involving his private life, and there is a fear that he will once again emerge as a divisive figure within the party and ruin the chances of Mitt Romney, who still remains the party's most viable candidate to take on Obama.

Jon Huntsman – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

A former Mormon missionary. Scion of billion dollar chemical empire. Fluent in Mandarin. High school dropout (he obtained his G.E.D a few years later). A personal friend of President Barack Obama. Perceived by some as evasive.

Hardly a convincing choice as the Republican nominee for next year's presidential election now, is he? But if one were to look deeper, the affable Huntsman may very well turn out to be the savior of the Republicans comes 2012.

The thoughtful, bipartisan thinking and media savvy motorcycle-riding former aide to both former presidents Reagan and Bush (H.W), exudes a breath of fresh air into the sometimes all too predictable Republican nomination process.

Huntsman is a conservative who is respected by the liberals, a blue blood that is at ease with the average Americans, a devout Mormon with rock music sensibilities and a nationalist that still calls Chinese Vice President, Xi Jinping, a friend.

Huntsman is a contradiction, an enigma, a complex personality; and because of his personal fortune, has never been beholden to anyone. His term as the Governor of Utah saw him maintaining a consistently, ridiculously high approval ratings in excess of 70%. In fact, he won reelection for his second term by capturing an incredible 77.7% of the vote – an almost unheard of figure in modern top-tier politics. The respected Pew Center on the States cited Utah as the best managed state in the country during his tenure.

His time in the Republican administration of the 80's and early 90's saw him rising from an ordinary aide to the United States Ambassador to Singapore (the youngest ever at 32) within a few short years. Huntsman is a formidable man indeed. But the most frightening thing about the father of seven is, he appears to have no skeletons in his closet; and that just might prove to be the clincher for the Republican voters and delegates in the coming months.

Gary Johnson – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The former Libertarian Republican Governor does not attend church, is pro-choice, anti-big government, pro-immigration, an outspoken critic of the war on drugs and favors legalizing marijuana. He led New Mexico for eight years, during which time the state saw no tax increase, and he vetoed over 750 separate pieces of legislation to keep the government from growing. However, his views on civil liberties, foreign policy and drugs may be difficult for many conservatives to reconcile with.

Fred Karger – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Fred Karger, one of the shrewdest Republican political operators of the past three decades, announced the formation of his 2012 Exploratory Committee on July 18, 2010, making him the first ever openly gay aspirant for the presidency. Despite being a lifelong Republican, the 61-year old Karger will be running on an independent ticket. His campaign was hit with a sucker punch when he was locked out of the Carolina Republican Party Presidential Debate of May 5, with the organizers citing his low poll numbers as the reason.

Andy Martin – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The self-professed People's Attorney General and Internet Powerhouse is famously remembered as the source of the chain mail and online reports questioning the citizenship of President Obama and the claim that he was a Muslim. The 66-year old Martin filed his papers as a candidate for the next presidential election on Feb 8, and was quoted two weeks later saying, "Obama plays for keeps. He plays rough, and that's the only way to beat him, and I'm the only one that is tough enough to do that."

Thad McCotter – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The lead guitarist for the New Flying Squirrels, who incidentally is also a five-term Representative for Michigan's 11th District, filed his papers for the 2012 US Presidential Elections with the FEC on July 1, 2011, and will formally announce the news during the WAAM Freedom Festival at Whitmore Lake the following day, where he is slated to perform with his band. The news was not entirely unexpected as McCotter revealed earlier in April his decision not to seek re-election for his House seat.

Jimmy McMillan – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The former mayoral, gubernatorial and senatorial candidate for the Rent Is Too Damn High Party announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on December last year. Explaining his decision not to contest the Democratic nomination, a party he was formerly registered with, karate expert McMillan was quoted as saying "the rent is too damn high." The flamboyant Vietnam veteran also gave some words of advice to President Obama, "If you don't do your job right, I am coming at you!"

Tom Miller – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Tom Miller feels that the country is being destroyed from within chiefly through a series of failed fiscal and immigration policies; a state of affair brought forth by an entrenched political elite. Miller sees himself as a representative of the people, as envisioned by the Founding Fathers themselves, and offers a solution-based approach to tackle the multitude of issues facing the nation. Ultimately, he hopes to re-empower the American people around the concept of small government.

Ron Paul – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The former medical doctor officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination on May 13, 2011. The 75-year old Texas Congressman will once again center his campaign on the theme of liberty, human rights and financial market reforms. With his small but vocal pockets of supporters spread all over the country, the Libertarian leaning Republican is set to be one of the most controversial characters on the campaign trail.

Rick Perry – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

After almost two years of uncertainty, Texas Governor Rick Perry's wall of resistance has crumbled. Perry took advantage of the publicity generated by the Ames Straw Poll and announced his entry into the Republican nomination race in Charleston, South Carolina, with a confident declaration, "I full well believe I'm going to win". His candidacy is expected to reinvigorate the hitherto subdued Republican evangelical grassroots, and inject some excitement into the contest.

Carl Person – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Carl Person is a self-confessed high school dropout who would later go on to become a New York attorney and found the Paralegal Institute. He finished third in voting in 2010 for New York Attorney General, a position he claims holds more power than the United States President. A small business owner for nearly 20 years, he says he knows how to turn around the economy: privatization and reduction or elimination of business regulations.

Buddy Roemer – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

After being away from politics for the last two decades, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer announced on March this year the launch of his presidential exploratory committee. The 67-year old former Democrat has cited campaign finance reforms as one of the bulwarks of his platform and has imposed a $100 limit on disclosed contributions per individual for his potential run. At a Tea Party rally in May, he claims that the current system is "disastrous, it's dysfunctional."

Mitt Romney – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Right from the moment John McCain lost the 2008 election to Barack Obama, Romney has emerged as the clear favorite for the Republican 2012 presidential nominee. The Harvard man has been comfortably leading every poll since then. Unless Bachmann, Huntsman, Pawlenty and company start to make ground soon, the liberal turned conservative former Governor of Massachusetts may just walk through the primaries. While his ideology and personal beliefs may be subject to debate, his knack for business is beyond question.

Rick Santorum – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The former two-term senator from Pennsylvania officially announced his entry into the GOP Presidential nomination race on June 6, 2011, symbolically launching his campaign at the Somerset County Courthouse, located not far from the coal mine where his grandfather first worked after arriving from Italy. Despite his dismal poll numbers, Santorum is confident of gaining grounds on early favorite Mitt Romney and warns, "We are going to be in this race, and we're in it to win."

Barack Obama – Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate:

Born to a Kenyan father and a Caucasian mother, the former community activist and lawyer came into national prominence with a show stopping keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, befitting his reputation as a brilliant orator. In 2008, after a hard fought win against Hillary Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination, the former Senator from Illinois crushed Republican John McCain to become the first African American to claim the presidency.

Randall Terry – Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate:

At a glance, it may seem a little odd for a pro-life and anti-LGBT candidate to run for the Democratic nomination. A closer look however, would tell us that an estimated 30-40% of Democrats actually shares the 52-year old Terry's views. And for those who consider this as nothing more than a publicity stunt by an anti-abortionist radical, think again. Randall Terry is planning to spend close to $3 million for a 30-second slot in the 2012 Super Bowl.

R Lee Wrights – Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate:

R. Lee Wrights officially announced his candidacy for the Libertarian 2012 presidential nomination race at the party's annual state convention in Hickory, on April 15, 2011. The 52-year old former sergeant with the U.S. Air Force proclaimed "I am still a warrior, but I am not at war", a clear indication of his anti-war stance. The Tar Heel Libertarian has been an ever-present name in the Libertarian circles for over a decade and once served as Vice-Chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

Vern Wuensche – Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Wuensche ran for President in 2008, garnering a tenth place finish in both the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, despite spending only US$36,000. In 100 days, the owner of Houston's third oldest construction company visited over 6,000 local businesses and churches in 242 towns in both states. He believes that businesses survive and thrive chiefly through the caliber of those who runs them and thus, these executives are perfectly qualified for a public office shorn of proven management experience.

Now let me discuss here about the potential candidates, who would also appear in the race within weeks from now:

Scott Brown – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The 52-year old lawyer became the Senator of Massachusetts in 2010 after unexpectedly winning a special election held to fill the seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy. The former National Guardsmen and Cosmo's 1982 America Sexiest Man is an old hand in the State Legislature, having spent six-terms there. The self-professed Reagan Republican has yet to officially announce his candidacy, and pundits are speculating that he will instead focus on getting re-elected for his Senate seat next year.

Robert Burck – Potential 2012 Independent Presidential Candidate:

Empire State Building. Carnegie Hall. Central Park. Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York Stock Exchange. St. Patrick's Cathedral. Statue of Liberty. Rockefeller Center. Times Square. Wait. Make that Times Square AND The Naked Cowboy. Such is the popularity of Robert John Burck, a.k.a The Naked Cowboy, it would be remiss to exclude him from a must-see list for tourists visiting New York City. More so now, after Burck announced his candidacy in September 2010. To date, Burck has still not officially registered his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

Charlie Christ – Potential 2012 Independent Presidential Candidate:

Crist single term as Governor of Florida is chiefly remembered for his stewardship of the largest tax cut in the state's history, and the now- derided 'Cover Florida' healthcare proposal. His decision not to seek re-election and instead contest for the Senate seat spectacularly backfired when he was defeated by fresh-faced Marco Rubio in the Republican primaries. It forced him to run as an independent, which he saw him again losing to Rubio.

Rudy Giuliani – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

To many, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is damaged goods, with just too much baggage to be ever considered for high office again, let alone as President. However, to others, this merely exemplifies the human side of the 2001 Time magazine Person of the Year. This, coupled with the fond memories of Giuliani's decisive and comforting leadership following the 9/11 WTC attack, probably explains why Giuliani tops a list of twelve Republican candidates in a recent CNN poll.

Lindsey Graham – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Air Force and Gulf War veteran, two-term South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's much-anticipated foray into the Republican 2012 presidential nomination race skidded into a halt in April this year after allegations of his sexuality emerged. It proved to be a disappointment for the supporters of the moderate conservative, as many believed that his bipartisan approach would be able to attract not only independents, but more importantly, the disgruntled minority of the Democrats.

Charles Harvey – Potential 2012 Independent Presidential Candidate:

A non-traditionalist would perhaps be the perfect term to describe Charles Harvey. Throughout his life, the Navy Vet has repeatedly overcome the odds by choosing the road less traveled. He believes that his wealth of experience and grasp of the prevailing sentiments of the man on the street, gives him a unique advantage in hauling America back to a sensible path and in the process, regain the respect and goodwill we've lost to the world.

Roy Moore – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

In a political landscape dominated by shifting alliances, policy U-turns and even outright lies, West Point graduate and 2012 presidential candidate Roy Moore stands tall as a man who sticks to his guns, no matter the cost. In 2003, Moore went against the ruling of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by refusing to take down a display of the Ten Commandments and a monument from the Alabama Supreme Court building, a decision that ultimately cost him the position as the state's chief justice.

Sarah Palin – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

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.

Wayne Allyn Root – Potential 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate:

Root has been considered as the front runner for the 2012 Libertarian nomination for well over a year. The author and media personality started off as a candidate in 2008 before ending up as the running mate for the eventual Libertarian nominee, Bob Barr. Root believes that with proper exposure, the average Americans would easily embrace the libertarian philosophy. He also reasons that the Libertarian presidential candidate should be included in any national level presidential debates.

Becky Rusher – Potential 2012 Independent Presidential Candidate:

Despite being politically unaffiliated, Becky Rusher feels compelled to dive into the 2012 presidential election as she believes that the elected members of Congress have forgotten their fundamental tasks as the representatives of the American people. She finds the political culture of the country as incredibly damaging, and aims to address the deep-seated malaise afflicting the political establishment using simple common sense.

Joe Scarborough – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

The 48-year old former Republican Congressman from Florida is currently the host of MSNBC's talk show, Morning Joe. Since leaving Congress five months into his fourth term for personal reasons, Scarborough has been approached twice by Republican officials to contests the Florida Senate seat. He declined on both occasions. However, the perceived paucity of a suitable candidate has seen segments of the Republican base touting Scarborough as an alternative option, a notion he has yet to dispel.

Allen West – Potential 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate:

Despite retiring from the United States Army in 2003 under a cloud, following an incident involving an Iraqi police officer, the 50-year old former Lieutenant-Colonel of the Army and commanding officer of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery is still considered by many as one of the country's greatest war heroes of the last two decades. Such was West reputation that 95 members of Congress signed a letter of support following his decision to retire.

Now here is the list of the declined candidates: