|Rubio used to be a Tea Party favorite when he defeated [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]], but some soured on his actions beginning with his efforts with [[Chuck Schumer]] as part of the so-called "Gang of Eight" to enact pro-immigration legislation.<ref>Rubio has also been criticize for denouncing [[Michele Bachmann]]'s investigation into [[Huma Abedin]] an for sending troops into Syria.</ref>
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at [[Jack Kemp]] library, delivered GOP response to Obama's 2013 SOTU, put his capital on the line working with seven other Senators on a controversial amnesty plan many conservatives oppose but has now eased away from it. Announced candidacy on April 13, 2015.<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325251-1/senator-marco-rubio-rfl-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Won in Minnesota and Puerto Rico. Dropped on out March 15, 2016 after losing the Florida Primary.
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|[[Ted Cruz]]
|Previously active in the [[tea-party movement]], solid on opposition to Obamacare and gun control. Good debater.
|Like Obama, some question as to eligibility. As a first-term Senator, relatively inexperienced. Alienated some due to role in government shutdown.
|Bypassed the exploratory committee process and instead made his formal announcement of candidacy on March 23, 2015.<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?324979-1/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Has gained in the polls since the first debate. By March, he'd won in Iowa, Maine, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alaska.
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|[[John Kasich]]
|Two-term Ohio Governor, former U.S. Congressman. Popular with establishment types after Jeb Bush's withdrawal from the race.
|Expanded Medicare in his state, said the [[Bible]] supports [[Obamacare]], D.C. beltway insider, and will not oppose [[same-sex marriage]].
|On July 21, 2015, Kasich officially declared his candidacy, stating, "I have decided to run for president of the United States."<ref>http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/07/21/john-kasich-presidential-announcement.html</ref>
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An NBC News exit poll taken at the Republican Primary in South Carolina found that voters have become more conservative: