2012 Republican Party presidential candidates explained

Election Name:2012 Republican Party presidential candidates
Country:United States
Type:presidential
Candidate1:Mitt Romney
Color1:f25000
Home State1:Massachusetts
States Carried1:42+ DC & U.S. Territories
Delegate Count1:2061
Popular Vote1:10,031,336
Percentage1:52.13%
Candidate2:Ron Paul
Color2:ffd943
Home State2:Texas
States Carried2:3
Delegate Count2:190
Popular Vote2:2,095,762
Percentage2:10.89%
Previous Election:2008 Republican Party presidential candidates
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2016 Republican Party presidential candidates
Next Year:2016
Election Date:August 28, 2012
(Republican National Convention)
Map Size:308px
Previous Republican nominee
Before Election:John McCain
Posttitle:Republican nominee
After Election:Mitt Romney

This article contains lists of notable candidates for the United States Republican Party's 2012 presidential nomination.

Candidates

The following individuals filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and/or announced their intentions to seek the 2012 presidential nomination of the Republican Party. In this table, those marked lighter grey were not featured in any televised debates that occurred while their respective campaigns were active; those marked darker grey were excluded from the majority of those same televised debates, but are notable for having debated with at least some of the televised candidates in other forums (usually online). Candidates with an asterisk after their withdrawal date subsequently sought the nomination of another party.

See results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries for more details about the outcome of the primaries.

Appeared on more than two primary ballots

CandidateBackgroundDeclaredStates/popular vote/delegates wonWithdrewNotes

Newt Gingrich
(campaign)		Former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives from GeorgiaMay 11, 2011[10] 2
2,689,771
(14.20%)
0		May 2, 2012After a poor showing in the Delaware primaries, Gingrich's advisers hinted on April 25, 2012, that he would exit the race the following week.[11] He officially ended his campaign on May 2, and endorsed Mitt Romney.[12] Gingrich received no delegate votes at the convention, having released his bound delegates to Romney.

Rick Santorum
(campaign)		Former U.S. Senator from PennsylvaniaJune 6, 2011[13] 11
3,816,110
(20.43%)
9		April 10, 2012Santorum suspended his campaign following the hospitalization of his three-year-old daughter Isabella, as well as a strong showing by front runner Mitt Romney in primaries and polls.[14] [15] [16] He conceded the race to Romney later that day, though didn't fully endorse him until May 7.[17] [18] [19] Santorum received nine delegate votes at the convention, coming in third behind Romney and Ron Paul, despite having officially released his bound delegates to Romney.

Buddy Roemer
(campaign)		Former governor of LouisianaJune 21, 2011[20] 0
33,212
(0.17%)
1		February 22, 2012*Roemer was not invited to any of the televised debates, but participated in the November LibertyPAC online debate with Gingrich, Johnson, and Santorum, and then also in the December WePolls.com online debate along with Gary Johnson and Fred Karger. He received a total of 30,523 votes from Iowa New Hampshire, Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, California, and Puerto Rico, where he came in third place. On February 22, he withdrew from the Republican race to pursue nomination as a member of the Reform Party.[21] Roemer received one delegate-vote at the convention.

Rick Perry
(campaign)		Governor of TexasAugust 13, 2011[22] 0
42,251
(0.28%)
0		January 19, 2012After doing poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire, he suspended his campaign, endorsing Newt Gingrich.[23] On April 25, he switched his endorsement to Mitt Romney, after advisers hinted that Gingrich would withdraw from the race.[24] He remained on the ballot in most states prior to Super Tuesday, and received 54,769 votes during the primary season. Perry received no delegate votes at the convention.

Jon Huntsman Jr.
(campaign)		Former Governor of Utah and US Ambassador to ChinaJune 21, 2011[25] 0
83,173
(0.44%)
1		January 16, 2012After coming in third in New Hampshire, he suspended his campaign, endorsing Mitt Romney.[26] He remained on the ballot in most states prior to Super Tuesday, and received 84,724 votes during the primary season, collecting two delegates. Huntsman received one delegate vote at the convention.

Michele Bachmann
(campaign)		U.S. Representative from MinnesotaJune 27, 2011[27] 0
41,401
(0.21%)
1		January 4, 2012
After winning the Ames Straw Poll, her candidacy collapsed and after coming sixth in the Iowa caucuses, she suspended her presidential campaign.[28] After months of speculation, Bachmann endorsed Mitt Romney on May 3.[29] She remained on the ballot in most states prior to Super Tuesday, and received 41,401 votes during the primary season, collecting two 'soft' delegates. Bachmann received one delegate vote at the convention.

Suspended or withdrew before the primaries, but appeared on at least three primary ballots

CandidateBackgroundDeclaredStates/popular vote/delegates wonWithdrewNotes

Herman Cain
(campaign)		Businessman of GeorgiaMay 21, 2011[30] 0
13,629
(0.07%)
0		December 3, 2011After a series of scandals, Cain suspended his presidential campaign, and after momentarily reviving it as part of Stephen Colbert's satirical presidential campaign, endorsed Newt Gingrich on January 28, 2012.[31] [32] On April 17, 2012, he changed his endorsement to Mitt Romney.[33] He remained on the ballot in a number of states, and has received 13,629 votes during the primary season. Cain received no delegate votes at the convention.

Gary Johnson
(Campaign)		Former Governor of New MexicoApril 21, 2011[34] 0
4,364
(0.02%)
0		December 28, 2011*Johnson was in the first televised debate, and in one other televised debate, but was excluded from the other televised debates. He debated online during November with Gingrich, Santorum, and Roemer; he then debated online with Roemer and Karger during December. Johnson withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on December 28, endorsing Ron Paul in that contest. Johnson officially declared his candidacy for the 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nomination on the same day, and became the party's nominee on May 5, 2012.[35] [36] He remained on the Republican primary ballot in a number of states and received 4,364 votes during the Republican primary season. As the Libertarian nominee, Johnson received 1,274,136 votes (which was 1% of the votes cast) on the November general election ballot.

Appeared on only one primary ballot

Formed exploratory committee but did not run

Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, announced the formation of an exploratory committee on May 18, 2011.[73] [74] When that campaign failed to gain traction, he began to draw speculation in the media as being a potential Constitution Party presidential contender.[75] [76] Moore eventually withdrew his exploratory committee and ended all speculation of a presidential candidacy in November 2011, when he announced he would seek election to his former post of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2012.[77] He received two write-in votes in Iowa.

Speculative candidates

Received speculation

The following people were the object of presidential speculation in media reports in 2011. This gallery does not include people who declined to run (see below).

Declined to run

The following people, who were speculated to be potential candidates for the Republican Party's presidential nomination clearly and unequivocally denied interest publicly, released Shermanesque statements, or declared candidacy for a different political office in 2012.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Romney opens presidential bid — he's got company. Elliot. Philip. Holly. Ramer. June 2, 2011. Seattle Times Newspaper. September 5, 2011.
  2. News: Romney officially clinches nomination at condensed GOP convention. Cohen. Tom. August 28, 2012. CNN. August 28, 2012.
  3. News: Obama takes key battlegrounds to win re-election. Cohen. Tom. November 7, 2012. CNN. November 17, 2012.
  4. News: Rep. Ron Paul announces candidacy for president. Steinhauser. Paul. May 13, 2011. CNN. September 5, 2011. September 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110916171604/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/13/breaking-rep-ron-paul-announces-third-bid-for-presidency/. dead.
  5. News: Swann. Ben. Reality Check: RNC rule change starting a Republican civil war?. WXIX-TV. August 30, 2012.
  6. News: Inside the Beltway: Ron Paul's not done yet. Harper. Jennifer. July 31, 2012. The Washington Times. August 1, 2012.
  7. News: Ron Paul: 'I Don't Fully Endorse' Mitt Romney. Reilly. Mollie. August 26, 2012. Huffington Post. August 4, 2013.
  8. News: Ron Paul Won't Endorse Romney, Cites More of Same. David. Javier. October 11, 2012. CNBC. November 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025114945/http://www.cnbc.com/id/49374723/Ron_Paul_Won_t_Endorse_Romney_Cites_More_of_Same. October 25, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
  9. Fred Karger to be First to File for President With the Federal Election Commission . Fred Karger Presidential Exploratory Committee . March 21, 2011 . May 3, 2011 . April 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150415002051/http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1ea48748437e76e4e682256ff&id=5b0a2883e4&e=f6d4d3c60e . dead . mdy-all .
  10. News: Newt Gingrich running for president. Politico. May 11, 2011. Kendra. Marr. May 11, 2011. May 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110513062124/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54780.html. live. mdy-all.
  11. News: Gingrich to leave campaign, but not the national spotlight. MSNBC. April 25, 2012. Michael. O'Brien. April 25, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425210650/http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/25/11390550-gingrich-to-leave-campaign-but-not-the-national-spotlight?lite. April 25, 2012. mdy-all.
  12. News: Newt Gingrich formally ends presidential campaign. BBC News. May 2, 2012. May 2, 2012.
  13. Web site: Stephanopoulos. George. Exclusive – Rick Santorum Will Run for President: 'We're In It to Win'. June 6, 2011.
  14. News: CNN. Santorum suspends campaign . April 10, 2012. April 10, 2012.
  15. Montopoli, Brian (April 10, 2012)"Rick Santorum ending bid for GOP nomination", CBS News. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  16. Falcone, Michael; Saenz, Arlette (April 10, 2012) "Rick Santorum Suspends Presidential Campaign", ABC News. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  17. News: Yahoo! News. Rick Santorum ends presidential campaign after conceding to Mitt Romney in phone call . April 10, 2012. April 10, 2012.
  18. News: USA TODAY. Santorum not yet ready to make endorsement . April 17, 2012. April 19, 2012.
  19. News: USA TODAY. Santorum endorses one-time rival Romney . May 7, 2012. May 7, 2012.
  20. News: Roemer kicks off 2012 presidential bid . Fox Toledo Online . July 21, 2011 . July 21, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930153810/http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpps/elections/president/roemer-kicks-off-2012-presidential-bid-nt11-jpe_3888834 . September 30, 2011 . mdy-all .
  21. News: Buddy Roemer for President. Gov. Buddy Roemer Goes Independent. February 22, 2012. February 22, 2012. August 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120811175745/http://www.buddyroemer.com/splash. dead.
  22. Web site: Kerley. David. Texas Gov. Rick Perry Entering 2012 Race. ABC News.
  23. News: Rick Perry ends White House bid and backs Newt Gingrich. January 19, 2012. . January 19, 2012.
  24. News: Texas governor switches endorsement from Gingrich to Romney. April 25, 2012. CNN. April 25, 2012.
  25. News: Huntsman enters 2012 race against ex-boss Obama. Egan. Mark. June 21, 2011. Reuters. September 5, 2011.
  26. News: Huntsman Says He's Quitting G.O.P. Race. Rutenberg. Jim. January 15, 2012. The New York Times. January 15, 2012.
  27. News: The Wall Street Journal. Bachmann: Officially in 2012 Race . June 27, 2011. June 27, 2011. Patrick . O'Connor.
  28. News: Bachmann ends GOP presidential bid. https://web.archive.org/web/20120104194142/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/source-bachmann-will-acknowledge-the-reality-of-iowa-vote/. dead. January 4, 2012. King. John. January 4, 2012. CNN. January 19, 2012.
  29. News: Bachmann endorses Romney. May 3, 2012. CNN. May 3, 2012.
  30. Green, Joshua (May 21, 2011) "Herman Cain Makes It Official", The Atlantic. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  31. Web site: Cain suspends presidential bid. CNN. December 3, 2011. January 19, 2012. January 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120119080515/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/03/breaking-cain-suspends-presidential-campaign/. dead.
  32. Elliott, Philip (January 28, 2012). Cain backs Gingrich's presidential bid . Associated Press. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  33. Web site: Cain jumps ship for Romney. CNN. April 17, 2012. April 18, 2012.
  34. Web site: Gary Johnson makes 2012 presidential run official. Politico. April 21, 2011. August 6, 2011.
  35. Web site: Gary Johnson makes switch to Libertarian Party official. New Hampshire Union Leader. December 28, 2011. December 28, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120105130904/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111228/NEWS0605/111229923. January 5, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
  36. Web site: Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson wins Libertarian Party presidential nomination. https://archive.today/20120909200043/http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Johnson-wins-libertarian-party-nomination. dead. September 9, 2012. Santa Fe New Mexican. May 5, 2012. May 5, 2012.
  37. Web site: John Davis, Jr.'s Biography. Project Vote Smart. August 1, 2015.
  38. Web site: L. John Davis FEC Filing. October 1, 2010. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  39. Web site: New Hampshire Republican Delegation 2012. The Green Papers. August 1, 2015.
  40. Web site: Texas Republican Delegation 2012. The Green Papers. August 1, 2015.
  41. Web site: About . Michael Meehan for President . August 1, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120212005040/http://michaelmeehanforpresident.com/about.html . February 12, 2012 . unfit .
  42. Web site: Missouri Republican Delegation 2012. The Green Papers. August 1, 2015.
  43. Web site: Mark Callahan's Biography. Project Vote Smart. August 1, 2015.
  44. Web site: Mark Callahan FEC Filing. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  45. Web site: Arizona Republican Delegation 2012. The Green Papers. August 1, 2015.
  46. Web site: Christopher Hill's Biography. Project Vote Smart. August 1, 2015.
  47. Web site: Christopher V. Hill FEC Filing. May 31, 2011. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  48. Web site: Randolph Crow's Biography. Project Vote Smart. August 1, 2015.
  49. Web site: Randolph Wilson Crow FEC Filing. May 11, 2010. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  50. Web site: Randolph Wilson Crow FEC Filing. November 12, 2010. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  51. Web site: Louisiana Republican Delegation 2012. The Green Papers. August 1, 2015.
  52. Web site: Who is Keith Drummond? . Keith Drummond for President . August 1, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120608005614/http://www.drummond2012.com/ . June 8, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  53. Web site: Keith Drummond FEC Filing. September 12, 2011. Federal Election Commission. August 1, 2015.
  54. News: 'King of birthers' to run for president. December 29, 2010. Seattle Times Newspaper. September 5, 2011. Michael A.. Memoli.
  55. News: Republican presidential candidate and conservative blogger Andy Martin lands in Hawai'i May 2nd to conduct continuing research into President Barack Obama's personal history. April 25, 2012. Andy Martin for President. May 4, 2012.
  56. Web site: The long, long New Hampshire ballot. Burns. Alexander. October 28, 2011. Politico. October 31, 2011.
  57. Web site: Greenleaf on presidential ballot. Weckselblatt. Gary. phillyBlurbs.com. October 31, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111101114430/http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/greenleaf-on-presidential-ballot/article_820a5efb-d687-547a-a8a2-678cb368c146.html. November 1, 2011. mdy-all.
  58. Web site: Greenleaf: 'I'm not running for president'. Weckselblatt. Gary. January 10, 2012. phillyBlurbs.com. dead. https://archive.today/20120910191753/http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/greenleaf-i-m-not-running-for-president/article_051e3563-25ee-5c2a-aa1e-4ca6da0c696f.html. September 10, 2012. mdy-all.
  59. News: Now I've Heard It All... From Jimmy McMillan: Updated. Katz. Celeste. December 24, 2010. Daily News. September 5, 2011.
  60. News: Jimmy McMillan: Barack Obama and Bill Clinton Made the Rent Too Damn High. Bekiempis. Victoria. January 31, 2012. The Village Voice.
  61. News: The Rent Is Still Too Damn High: Jimmy McMillan Will Run For Mayor In 2013. Chung. Jen. September 14, 2012. Gothamist. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130530152818/http://gothamist.com/2012/09/14/jimmy_mcmillan_will_run_for_mayor_i.php. May 30, 2013. mdy-all.
  62. News: Thaddeus McCotter 2012 announcement is unusually understated . Politico. Barr . Andy . July 2, 2011 . July 3, 2011 .
  63. News: Shepardson. David. McCotter drops out of race for GOP presidential nomination. The Detroit News. September 22, 2011. September 22, 2011.
  64. Web site: Tim Pawlenty enters 2012 race: how he might win. Grier. Peter. May 23, 2011. The Christian Science Monitor. September 5, 2011.
  65. News: Bachmann Boom; TPaw Bust?. August 13, 2011. August 14, 2011. National Journal. Beth. Reinhard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111025124108/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/08/ames-a-strongly.php. October 25, 2011. mdy-all.
  66. News: Pawlenty Endorses Romney for President, Cites 'Unmatched' Business Experience. September 12, 2011. Fox News Channel. September 22, 2011.
  67. Web site: The Impaler for President 2012. Federal Elections Commission. June 5, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080919092635/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00414912. September 19, 2008. mdy-all.
  68. Web site: Florida vampire to run for president. Pransky. Noah. March 15, 2010. WTSP.com. June 5, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100324105923/http://origin.tampabays10.com/news/topstories/story.aspx?storyid=127365&catid=250. March 24, 2010. mdy-all.
  69. Web site: Vampire Among Hopefuls Running for President in 2012. Friedman. Emily. January 24, 2011. ABC News. June 5, 2011.
  70. Web site: Miscellaneous Report to the FEC. FEC. August 27, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151004164105/http://images.nictusa.com/pdf/233/11030654233/11030654233.pdf. October 4, 2015. mdy-all.
  71. Web site: Reports Image Index for Candidate ID: P20000089. Federal Elections Commission. June 24, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714014127/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?P20000089. July 14, 2015. mdy-all.
  72. Web site: PAGE BY PAGE REPORT DISPLAY FOR 11030621309 (Page 1 of 2). July 7, 2011. FEC. September 5, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714014321/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_11030621309+0. July 14, 2015. mdy-all.
  73. (April 18, 2011) "Ten Commandments judge explores presidential run", Associated Press. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  74. (April 18, 2011) "Republican former judge Roy Moore testing waters for presidential bid", Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  75. http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/will-roy-moore-be-gops-ralph-nader-2012, "Sunshine State News". Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  76. http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2011/08/roy-moore-to-speak-sunday-in-alabama/, "Independent Political Report". Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  77. Web site: Roy Moore to Run for His Old Job -- Not the White House . Sunshine State News . November 23, 2011 . November 24, 2011 . Derby, Kevin . November 28, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111128185958/http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/roy-moore-run-his-old-job-not-white-house . dead .

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