Changes

|A [[movement conservative]] who "knocked the ball out of the park" with her nationally televised response to Obama's [[State of the Union]] address in January 2011, Bachmann is increasingly popular with the [[Tea Party movement]]; she is a strong fundraiser and won a stunning 52-40% landslide in 2010 in a liberal-leaning district in [[Minnesota]].  Did very well at [[CPAC]] in Feb. 2011. Bachmann's beliefs are similar to [[Ron Paul]]'s, but she is more of a conservative than libertarian, and is trying to appeal to Ron Paul's fanbase<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/politicaltheatre/2011/06/dont-read-that-dangerous-mises/</ref>, thus a Bachmann candidacy could unite Tea Party conservatives.

|A [[movement conservative]] who "knocked the ball out of the park" with her nationally televised response to Obama's [[State of the Union]] address in January 2011, Bachmann is increasingly popular with the [[Tea Party movement]]; she is a strong fundraiser and won a stunning 52-40% landslide in 2010 in a liberal-leaning district in [[Minnesota]].  Did very well at [[CPAC]] in Feb. 2011. Bachmann's beliefs are similar to [[Ron Paul]]'s, but she is more of a conservative than libertarian, and is trying to appeal to Ron Paul's fanbase<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/politicaltheatre/2011/06/dont-read-that-dangerous-mises/</ref>, thus a Bachmann candidacy could unite Tea Party conservatives.

|As with [[Ronald Reagan]], [[liberal bias]] is at its worst against her; has never won statewide office; [[Ron Paul]] did not support her for a House leadership position and did not join her [[Tea Party]] caucus.

|As with [[Ronald Reagan]], [[liberal bias]] is at its worst against her; has never won statewide office; [[Ron Paul]] did not support her for a House leadership position and did not join her [[Tea Party]] caucus.

|Did extremely well in the first debate; jumped to #1 in Zogby poll of primary voters; took a sterner approach to the second debate, perhaps to appeal more to angry voters currently supporting [[Ron Paul]]. Won the [[Ames Straw Poll]].

|Did extremely well in the first debate; jumped to #1 in Zogby poll of primary voters; took a more stern approach to the second debate, perhaps to appeal more to angry voters currently supporting [[Ron Paul]]. Won the [[Ames Straw Poll]].

|-

|-

|[[Ron Paul]]

|[[Ron Paul]]

|[[Herman Cain]]

|[[Herman Cain]]

|Former Godfathers Pizza CEO, conservative radio host, Tea Party favorite, tremendous speaker, triumphed over a health problem, is making himself known.

|Former Godfathers Pizza CEO, conservative radio host, Tea Party favorite, tremendous speaker, triumphed over a health problem, is making himself known.

|Not well known outside the conservative sphere of influence, although he is getting there.

|Not well known outside the conservative sphere of influence, although he is gaining influence among the public.

|Maintaining his ranking

|Maintaining his ranking

|-

|-

|[[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]]

|[[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]]

|Has foreign policy and executive experience. Appealing to moderates, although this is because he holds numerous liberal stances.

|Has foreign policy and executive experience. Appealing to moderates, although this is because he holds numerous liberal stances.

|Worked in the Obama administration; Criticized the [[economic stimulus package]] as not being big enough, favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform, supports civil unions, and is a believer in man-made global warming; could simply be a [[Utah]] decoy used by [[Team Newt]] to siphon support from [[Mitt Romney]]

|Worked in the Obama administration; Criticized the [[economic stimulus package]] as not being big enough, favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform, supports civil unions, and is a believer in man-made global warming.

|Not getting much support, except among the media and multiple Democrats

|Not getting much support, except among the media and multiple Democrats

|-

|-

|[[Thad McCotter]]

|[[Thad McCotter]]

|Congressman from Michigan who is [[conservative]] and being promoted by [[Fox News]], and does not need to read from a [[teleprompter]] to give a speech.

|Congressman from Michigan who is [[conservative]] and being promoted by [[Fox News]], and does not need to read from a [[teleprompter]] to give a speech.

|''Thad who?''  Not enough people know who he is yet. Twice this year voted against ending the preference for union labor in government construction projects. Could be seeking name recognition rather than the Republican nomination.<ref>http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php </ref>  

|Not enough people know who he is yet. Twice this year voted against ending the preference for union labor in government construction projects. Could be seeking name recognition rather than the Republican nomination.<ref>http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php </ref>  

|Increasing in support but slowly. Finished last in the Iowa Straw Poll.

|Increasing in support but slowly. Finished last in the Iowa Straw Poll.

|-

|-

|[[Rudy Giuliani]]

|[[Rudy Giuliani]]

|Widely respected for his post-9/11 leadership in New York City

|Widely respected for his post-9/11 leadership in New York City

|Struck out completely as a candidate in 2008; very weak on important social issues; cross-dressing for comedic purposes when it suited him

|Completely mismanaged his 2008 primary campaign; very weak on important social issues; cross-dressing for comedic purposes when it suited him

|A throwback to an era and issues that matter less now

|A throwback to an era and issues that matter less now

|-

|-