| The 2008 Election represented one of the rare | | | | also drive in the base to the polls. |
| times in US history that neither of the two major | | | | In the end, most political pundits feel that the |
| parties had a candidate running for president that | | | | 2012 election will basically be a job approval |
| was not already either the President or Vice | | | | question for the Obama presidency. If he is |
| President. Because of that reason, the Democratic | | | | deemed a successful president by the United |
| and Republican parties each held very impressive | | | | States, he will win convincingly. If the voters |
| and widely followed campaigns. | | | | decide that they did not get the change they |
| But for the 2012 election, the Republican party will | | | | wanted for the 2012 election, then they will likely |
| be the only party to have meaningful primaries | | | | look elsewhere for better options. |
| because Barack Obama is all but a shoe-in to run | | | | The likelist of candidates for the 2012 election at |
| for a second term in office. | | | | the present time would be Mitt Romney and Mike |
| So when the Republicans seek to choose a | | | | Huckabee. Charlie Crist, Tim Pawlenty, and Bobby |
| presidential nominee, they will have to measure his | | | | Jindal are also candidates that have been |
| her ability to beat Barack Obama in a general | | | | mentioned quite often as wild cards. Sarah Palin |
| election. Obama was widely successful among | | | | may be considered a Republican favorite but she |
| young voters, new voters, and minorities. The | | | | is far from likeable on the whole national |
| Republicans will have to choose a candidate that | | | | spectrum. |
| can not only challenge Obama on that front but | | | | |