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Campaign ’12 7


CHRIS CHRISTIE New Jersey Governor


Christie is the champion of a new type of conservatism that treats voters as adults who can handle bad news as long as somebody gives it to them straight. Christie’s tough love with public-sector unions — in New Jersey no less — has endeared him to the GOP base, but has cost him some political capital as well: In June, his approval rating in New Jersey slipped to 44 percent. Christie’s infl uence as an endorser likely would transcend the Garden State anyway, although his brusque New Jersey style might not play as well in the Bible Belt. He recently told The Washington Post, “Nobody yet has stood out that I’d like to get behind.” As a GOP rock star, Christie would be a welcome passenger on any candidates’ bandwagon.


8


JIM DEMINT South Carolina Senator


As endorsements go, DeMint offers a double- whammy: He lends instant credibility with grass-roots conservatives, and he is a powerful boost in his home state of South Carolina as well. Why is that so important? Since 1980, no candidate has won the nomination without winning the Palmetto State primary. DeMint was perhaps the only member of the U.S. Senate tea party members trusted, until they were able to send reinforcements to help DeMint in 2010.


The two-term U.S. senator has a solid network in South Carolina: He earned an MBA at Clemson, and spent three terms representing the state’s 4th Congressional District in the House prior to becoming a senator. In the last cycle DeMint endorsed Romney over Sen. John McCain. DeMint recently told MSNBC he hasn’t ruled out endorsing Romney again, but hasn’t made up his mind. He says he wants to see how the various candidates respond to the nation’s debt crisis.


9 PAUL RYAN


Chairman of the House Budget Committee


Many analysts believe the Path to Prosperity author is one Republican who possesses more than enough intellectual ammunition to more than hold his own in a battle of wits with President Obama. Like so many GOP contenders, however, it’s probably one cycle too soon for Ryan to make a run for the nomination himself. Still, the chairman of the House Budget Committee could have an important say in who wins the GOP nomination. True, his negatives have gone up since the House adopted his controversial 2012 budget proposal — having


the president of the United States personally excoriate you has a way of doing that. But Ryan is highly regarded both by the party’s intellectuals and its heartland conservatives, and any candidate would covet his imprimatur.


10


OVIDE LAMONTAGNE Manchester, N.H., Attorney


Attorney Ovide Lamontagne, a Manchester native, knows independent-thinking New Hampshire Republicans about as well as anyone, and could sway the outcome in this early primary state. A former chairman of the state board of education who has run for both governor and senator, Lamontagne won’t be shy about making an endorsement. “To the extent I can help weigh in on the election process in New Hampshire,” he said in a recent conference call, “I want to be part of that process.”


26 NEWSMAX / SEPTEMBER 2011


AP IMAGES / RYAN/ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES


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