There is no doubt that the economic recovery has been sluggish, in spite of the almost two trillion dollars investment Or dumping of tax payers money in it. Unemployment rate is still almost 10%, debt and deficit are growing, after already hitting the record levels. While, president Obama has a genuine defense of being inherited a complete mess, he still has to answer the questions like, why in the world we would start a third war, instead of stopping the existing two, as he promised in his 2008 election campaign? The cost of these wars is just another huge drawback under already, really grave circumstances. While traditionally, socialist and communist countries like, China, India, Brazil and Russia are growing their economies and cash reserves with leaps and bounds, we seem to be continuously losing the grounds.
As far as the economy and finances are concerned, field is definitely favorable for Republican Party and it's candidates. Let us have a look at the over all group of Republican candidates and their individual credentials. Over all there are seven contenders, so far. 

First of all, lets have a look at Michele Bachmann. She does have an attention grabbing personality, pretty much like Sarah Palin. She is popular for her unconditional support to Tea Party and it's ideas. Just like her support for tea party, her opposition to Obama healthcare reforms is unconditional, too. Like Sarah Palin, she is more interested in generating headlines, rather then, verifying and learning facts, before talking about those. 

Next is Herman Cain. He is popular in corporate and conservative circles. He is not a well known celebrity, but, has clear past. He does have a very impressive resume. An African-American radio talk show host, who is CEO and president of Godfather's Pizza, chairman of the board of the National Restaurant Association, and sits on the boards of companies like Hallmark Cards, Whirlpool and AGCO. He too is a very strong Tea Party supporter. In spite of being very popular in corporate and conservative circles, he is not causing considerable traction, so far. Probably, the idea of another black president, is too much to handle for Republican Party. 

Tim Pawlenty, is a classical American story of success. Son of truck driver, who was jobless for a while, he worked in produce section of a grocery store, to pay for his education. His mom died of ovarian cancer when he was sixteen. Due to very unfavorable circumstances, he was the only sibling, who managed to get decent college education. He was elected into the Minnesota state house in 1992 and became majority leader in 2002. He is a two times Republican governor of a blue state. He is an Evangelical Christian and seriously opposes the abortion and gay rights. 

Mitt Romney is taking another shot on White House. He, too, is a former governor of a very blue state. He is very well known name at national level and can potentially raise lots of money for his campaign. Along with Ron Paul, he is, currently, leading the polls. Although, he lead the polls in 2008, too. He has some problematic issues. Since, he was the governor of a blue state, ha made certain compromises with democrats, which are not popular among Republican voters. The healthcare reforms he did in Massachusetts, were similar to what most Republicans call as Obamacare, and are very unpopular amongst Republicans. He is very well known for keeping his finger up in the air, and has often contradicted himself on the basis of poll results. Another thing that makes it hard for him to win a nomination at national level, as opposed to very liberal Massachusetts, is the fact, which I think is still a very sad reality in America, that he is a Mormon. He does have a very impressive record as a businessman and organizer. 

Rick Santorum is probably the true male counterpart of Sarah Palin. He is also well known for thinking after talking and his ignorance with commonly known and well appreciated facts. He has been working really hard to win key states of Iowa, News Hampshire and South Carolina. In spite of all that effort his popularity is still in single digits, in most national polls. He is short on money, too, so far. He, too, is a very strong supporter of Tea Party Movement and seriously opposes the abortion and gay rights. 

This brings us down to, in my opinion, two real stars of Republican squad. The two candidates who really have the potential to challenge President Obama, specially, under current economic circumstances, if things do not improve substantially till the voting time. They are Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. 

Although Gingrich carries some baggage and his political career has gone through major ups and downs, and he is facing really hard circumstances, because, sixteen of his top campaign leaders, quit en masse. I like him, and Republican, conservative and neutral voters like him, mainly due to the reasons that he is smart, intelligent, full of ideas, brutally aggressive and still significantly popular. He is very conservative and I do not agree with many of his ideas. I still hate, what he did to John Kerry's perfect military record. But, I have to admit and respect the facts that he is a real patriot and has the IQ that can be trusted for President of United States. I believe, he is smart enough to place himself at a position that is relatively towards center. This will be really crucial for him to be able to beat President Obama, if he wins the Republican nomination. 

In the midst of the circumstances, in which the unemployment rate is still very high, economy is not showing any significant improvement, debt and deficits keep rising, government keeps expanding in size and power, IRS keeps harassing American people, more and more, banks owned Federal Reserve keeps strengthening it's control over economy and still seriously fails to regulate corporations properly, tax payers money kept getting dumped in helping multi-billion dollar, corrupt and crooked corporations, U.S. continues to support brutal IMF and World Trade Organization, which are still totally controlled by multi-national corporations and tax payer money, brave men and women of U.S. military kept getting dumped in useless, endless, fruitless and expensive wars and the grip of corporate lobbies over legislation and policy making keeps getting stronger and stronger, Ron Paul with his traditional Libertarian ideas, seems to be a perfect fit. Only questions remaining are, how practical and applicable those ideas are in today's world and how much support he can get from his own party for the sincere and honest implementation of those ideas, while most Republicans in U.S. legislature seem to be sold out to corporate lobbies? I have no doubt that Ron Paul is sincere and honest. I just don't know, how successful he could be in implementing his ideas and how much support he can get from his own party, which will be really crucial in the successful implementation of his ideas. I don't know, if Republican senators and representatives will be willing to give up the paychecks and perks they are getting from corporate lobbies, get along with Ron Paul and really help him, if he makes it to White House.