U.S., If the Candidate Is Weak

Romney, Palin and Bachmann for the GOP

They are so many who amount to nothing. This, at least for the moment, is the panorama of the Republican candidates; they are ready to compete in the next presidential primaries in 2012. Actually, not even the most experienced people in politics can keep count of all them who have indicated an interest as possible challengers to Barack Obama, who, after months of stress from to public opinion polls, is reliving a period of great acclaim.

Obama is not the only one who dusted off the numbers that seem to assure him an extension of his stay at the White House; nevertheless, the electoral campaign has not yet begun. Hence, after big cracks and withdrawals due to a post-midterm depression, the Democrats have come back to enjoy great optimism after the surprise victory in the special election in New York. There, the battle has been mainly focused on Medicare issues (the system of health assistance for the elderly), which the Republicans wanted to cut and the Democrats strongly defended. The not-at-all obvious ending confirmed that people are actually very worried about their benefits being taken away, especially those related to health care. Even the so-called “Obamacare,” the health care reform that was approved by Congress last year and initially opposed by a majority, convinces most Americans in current polls.

Which candidate? The panorama of the GOP is primarily weak, among other things, rather than uncertain. So much so that the online newspaper The Daily Beast conducted a study, interviewing a sample of 300 Republicans, trying to draw the profile of the ideal candidate, one who could have a real chance of not only defeating Barack Obama but also of inflaming the minds of conservatives. From the results — which stress the desire for candidates with strong family values, negotiating skills, an unconditional love of country, crystalline morality and absolute independence from personal interests — it is clear how difficult it is to find one candidate with all of these characteristics. Therefore, they are looking for a Frankenstein-style candidate or, to quote our Luigi Pirandello, a candidate who can be “one, no one and one hundred thousand.”

Possible candidates: Bachmann, Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney.

“Sarah Palin can beat President Obama in the next elections,” said John McCain about the return of the former governor of Alaska to the scene, who ranks among the least popular in the opinion polls these days. It is uncertain whether the senator said this in order to return the favor that he received during the election campaign when Palin sided with him (and not with the tea party candidate, allowing him to snatch the victory) or because he is still basically mad at her for being the real killer of his presidential race, as claimed by many observers. The fact is that the bus tour of the lady of Alaska, which began on Memorial Day, leaves observers pretty indifferent or even critical.

Women in need. Now Palin’s quotations are so compromised that even Michele Bachmann, out of the shadow of the former governor, wanted to point out that if she confirms her participation in the primaries, her contender will be Barack Obama and not Sarah Palin. “We are friends,” explained Bachmann, “and I don’t consider her a competitor.” Nevertheless, the security that Bachmann flaunted could be more necessary than real, because she seems determined to anticipate the decision on her candidacy in order to avoid to give too much advantage to Palin. Anyway, both could annihilate each other, much to the benefit of the crowded band of men with varying experience.

Romney, the most popular. According to the American media, the ideal candidate, as polls have been claiming for a while now, might be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was defeated in the 2008 presidential primaries by John McCain. Romney would respond well to most expectations of the elephant’s followers, thanks to his long-term political experience. However, once again, Obama’s health care reform could play as an unexpected blow: A reform that Romney, in line with his party’s commands, flat out attacks, asking for its repeal. Romney himself, however, is at the heart of the criticism from several of his voters because as governor of Massachusetts, he pushed through health care reform, very similar to the one enacted by Obama. Currently, Obama, who is back from the positive effects of his visit in Europe, may score some points to his advantage, temporarily silencing all those who have already given him a notice of eviction.