| Republican Candidates
Who will the GOP choose?
I think the slate is very weak this time. There's Giuliani who did a great job clearing crime in one (albeit very large) city. He also sounded good on TV after 9/11. But with his background in law, outside of crime reduction where is the substance?
McCain is a good solid choice and with his record as a 'social conservative' would have a wide appeal. But if he were to be elected he would be 76 at the end of a first term. Surely that is just too old.
Romney has a good record as Governor (at least it seems so over here) and I understand the health insurance reforms he enacted are quite radical and have been generally well received. The problem for him though is that his fairly reactionary views on same sex union, abortion, death penalty and so on will alienate large numbers of what we call 'floating voters'. (Do you use that term in the US?) While I could see him nominated I doubt he would have a prayer of winning the big prize.
Of the others, obviously Newt Gringrich is a big name, but I think his time has gone. I don't know if he has yet made an announcement, but I doubt he will get very far even if he does stand. The one who really interests me is Pataki. By all accounts a thoroughly decent and honest man (what's he doing in politics?) and with a real record as a winner, both in terms of elections and passing legislation. I'm not sure why he's not up there with the front runners. Is it no real power base? Or has Giuliani squeezed out the possibility of another liberal New York republican? Or perhaps there's some reason that we haven't heard about this side of the pond?
So who'll the winner be. If I was betting I think I'd back Giuliani, but if I was voting it would be Pataki. | 
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