'Oh, so that's who Richard Morris is..." Lord Hattersley on The Daily Politics

'An influential activist' - The Guardian

'Iain Dale, without the self loathing' - Matthew Fox in The New Statesman

'
You are a tinker...' - Tim Farron

Saturday 20 August 2011

Imagine you're a Registered Republican, you're about to select a candidate. Here are your choices.

Yes, I know we're all (sweeping generalisation) Obama folk. But on the basis that it's always best to know what you're up against...

These are the latest campaign videos (as far as I can tell and as their websites reveal) from the 18 candidates still in the running. On occasion I have put in clips from debates etc if that's what the candidate is currently choosing to show (Newt Gingrich for example) and on other occasions when the candidate makes it hard to download the film - Jon Huntsman, stand in the corner- I've gone for the best proxy I can find.

It's fascinating viewing.

Before watching them, do read this excellent piece entitled 'US voters are not mad. Our stereotype of them is patronising and wrong' from Martin Kettle in The Guardian. It's a good context for seeing who is likely to emerge as the challenger to Obama.

So, here goes....

Michele Bachmann



Herman Cain



Newt Gingrich



Jon Greenspon



Jon Huntsman



Gary Johnson



Fred Karger


Andy Martin



Thadeus McCotter



Jimmy McMillan



(very limited video available - this was the best I could find)

Tom Miller

Strangely, seems to have no video or news appearences available. Anywhere. But here's his website

Roy Moore



Ron Paul



Rick Perry



Buddy Roemer



(13 minutes long - but after 30 secs or so, you'll have the idea...)

Mitt Romney



Rick Santorum



Vern Wuensche



Just to be clear, Sarah Palin hasn't declared, and Tom Pawlenty has withdrawn. But if Sarah Palin were to declare she'd probably be running this...



(thanks to @themsley for that one)

Still time for others - but chances are it's one of the above.

Here we go...


1 comment:

  1. You know, I think America is another country and this stuff emphasises that.

    As Brits and Europeans we don't really get this sort of politics but who knows what any of us would think if we were American, brought up in that sort of society with their history and beliefs - where their sense of a great experiment, a city on a hill, an American dream are so important. And the outlook differs so much from coastal metropolitan america to small town interior america!

    The point is it is their choice and America will still be our ally in the world (though not for good or ill - Iraq, global warming etc etc).

    Still watching US presidential elections is great value for any political anorak like me and taking sides all part of the fun - not sure if I'd take any of these peoples' sides!

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