Rare News Desk
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have won the presidential straw poll last weekend at the Values Voters Summit but, if you had to put money on it, who do you think will win the Republican presidential nomination in 2016? Will it be the near-indefatigable Texas senator, renowned for his pioneering on solving America’s debt crisis, or will it be another? Based on the speaking circuits, social-media activity and fundraising of some, there is a promising pool of hopefuls. In alphabetical order, here are a handful of them:
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Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush has been leading the charge for U.S. immigration reform — a challenging feat to take up among a party deeply divided on the issue — and encouraging more Millennials to get involved in the political process. Love him or not, Jeb has shouldered the responsibility of uniting and growing a party that has suffered severe blows in the last two presidential elections. And though many Washington politicians may be conducting business as usual, Jeb points out in a Rare exclusive that the foremost leaders in the 50 states are Republicans who are making strides in balancing their budgets, improving education and decreasing the regulatory burden on small businesses so local economies can flourish and provide employment opportunities.
Dr. Benjamin Carson
The real-life star of director Thomas Carter’s “Gifted Hands,” Dr. Ben Carson made waves at the National Prayer Breakfast in February with his distinctly Christian, unabashed defense of — among other things — civil-but-free discourse; individual liberty; reigning in the deficit; tax reform; personal responsibility; job creation; and healthcare reform. (And was unfortunately later audited by the IRS, as reported by The Washington Times. To listen to commentary from Hermain Cain on the topic, click here.) More recently, he made headlines for condemning Obamacare as the worst thing since slavery and for supporting creation marriage.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Political pundit Ann Coulter in 2012 was starry-eyed over the prospect of a Christie administration but has since lost some love for the New Jersey governor because of his stance on immigration. The no-nonsense attorney, however, has shown an ability to work with Democrats on a number of issues, having teamed with the Obama administration to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy, and has been a staunch proponent of voters’ rights in the debate over gay marriage in New Jersey.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pseudo-filibustered his way into the hearts of Americans as he read beloved Dr. Seuss’ “Sam I Am” to his daughters, who watched their dad from afar as he stood up to those who are indiscriminately maxing out America’s already overextended credit cards and forcing through a healthcare bureaucracy that is distancing healthcare providers from their patients. His more-than-21-hour speech is sure to stand out as more and more Americans experience the disaster that is Obamacare.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
Gov. Bobby Jindal has been consistently holding accountable an administration not seen since the divine right of kings existed in the British monarchy. On Obamacare, IRS targeting and numerous other Obama-administration travesties, Gov. Jindal has never been afraid to say “Enough is enough.” The governor recently made headlines over the launch of his conservative policy group “America Next,” reports The Washington Post.
Utah Senator Mike Lee
Sen. Mike Lee is a politician with ideas. Specifically, he has a plan to streamline the U.S. tax structure. His 25 percent flat tax on “consumed income” might actually encourage Americans to save their money for once — a feature rather lacking in middle-class tax brackets. Furthermore, the Utah senator opposed the immigration bill proposed by the “Gang of Eight” because he believed it didn’t comprehensively address the issues surrounding the debate. In addition to being an outspoken opponent of Obamacare, Sen. Lee also introduced a resolution to review abortion policies after news of abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s “House of Horrors” broke — something sure to appeal to the increasing number of those that believe life begins at conception.
Kentucky Senator Dr. Rand Paul
The rock star of a fusion of Reagan conservatism and classical liberalism, Rand Paul seems to always have the right answers and the courage to stand behind those convictions. He stands against religious persecution of Christians, defends the rights of the unborn from the moment of conception, hilariously proposed Chief Justice John Roberts and federal workers enroll in Obamacare, opposed strikes on Syria … and drone strikes … and unwarranted domestic spying. He supports America limiting its role in the workings and financial support of other nations. He’s for school choice, he performed pro-bono eye surgeries this past summer. The list goes on. This doctor-senator is on a mission.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
The former vice-presidential candidate earlier this year spoke for the first time at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Committee, a sign the GOP political establishment has warmed up to the “rogue” politician. Furthermore, she was welcomed back to Fox News Channel in June and has maintained her social-media presence, consistently publishing to her Facebook page self-penned columns that garner thousands upon thousands of views and shares.
Texas Governor Rick Perry
Here’s hoping Americans look past the presidential debate that unfortunately erased his chances of entering the Oval Office as commander-in-chief in Jan. 2013. Why? Because Texas Governor Rick Perry is presidential material. The fact that Americans are moving from other insolvent, failing communities and descending on Texas in droves speaks far more to Gov. Perry’s leadership abilities than a passing memory lapse under intense limelight. Plus, he endeavored to persuade gun-maker Berretta to pick up shop and move to Texas — talk about firepower! He is an opponent of late-term abortion and proponent of policies that create a climate for job growth, telling CNN’s Candy Crowley that Texas is responsible for one-third of the nation’s job growth in the past 10 years. How about that for a presidential selling point?
Florida Senator Marco Rubio
Repeated calls to repeal Obamacare, warnings against unilateral amnesty for illegal aliens, tough foreign policy with Iran and a Father’s Day letter to his two young daughters published in TIME magazine are among the items in Sen. Rubio’s political repertoire. The Miami native is pushing boundaries in Washington, and bridging the gap between Republicans and those independents straddling the political fence.
Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan
Rep. Paul Ryan is perhaps best remembered by the photos of him and President Barack Obama that made the rounds on social media — aaaaand a photo of him kissing a fish. Or maybe it was the video of him ripping in to the IRS chief responsible for the agency’s targeting of conservative political groups. You decide. He has also been a pain in Attorney General Eric Holder’s butt — always a welcome sight.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum
Then there is Rick Santorum — a steadfast family man, shown above saluting his son during the Republican National Convention in Florida in 2012. He encourages conservative Republicans not to change their values but their tactics, emphasizing such a shift is key to future electoral success. He has also gone on the record stating the GOP needs to do a better job reaching out to blue states and blue collars.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Tough-skinned Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker let comments from crass comedienne Sarah Silverman slide off his back after signing legislation protecting unborn children. He has warned against Obamacare and has been a consistent supporter of policies that promote limited government.
Former Florida Representative Allen West
Former green beret Allen West has been making the rounds in red and blue states, promoting conservative principles and hinting at a possible presidential bid in 2016. The former congressman teased a group of Rhode Island Republicans in April after stating President Abraham Lincoln was a one-term congressman before he was elected to the White House. Retired Lt. Col. West, like Lincoln, served a single congressional term. A father of two, Lt. Col. West has maintained a strong social-media presence, especially during the so-called Obamacare and debt-ceiling negotiations.
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The Rare editorial board contributed to this article.
Carolyn Bolton is content editor for Rare. Follow her on Twitter @carbolton
