Who Reagan would support today

Republicans seeking the presidency like to be thought of as the Ronald Reagan of today. However, who would President Reagan support in 2012? First off, Reagan would likely wait until the GOP primary was over and then endorse, as he did even when his Vice President ran to succeed him in 1988. However, if Reagan was in the endorsement game, whom would he pick? Of all the candidates running today, only Former Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman worked in the Reagan administration. While there should be little doubt that Reagan would respect Huntsman, Huntsman has strayed away from the Reagan legacy in two important areas; his support for the economic stimulus and his foreign policy which clearly contradicts the "peace through strength" foreign policy advocated by President Reagan during his time in office. Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann have both taken hard-line stances on the issues they care about, but Dr. Paul has opposed the Reagan foreign policy and Congresswoman Bachmann has not been willing to work with democrats. Therefore, neither one of them would be supported by President Reagan. The Reagan endorsement would therefore be left between the four candidates not mentioned thus far; Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry. If there is anyone in the 2012 race who is close to Reagan from an ideology standpoint, it is Newt Gingrich. Both men fought for lower taxes and less government in their respective careers, and Newt Gingrich succeeded to reducing the debt, something Reagan failed to do despite seeking to do so by cutting domestic spending. Furthermore, Gingrich appears to be a strict adherent to the Reagan foreign policy of "peace through strength." Despite being like Reagan from an ideological standpoint and being able to work with democrats like Reagan did, the tone Gingrich takes on the campaign trail is much different than that of Reagan. Perhaps Newt Gingrich's biggest obstacle to winning the Reagan endorsement would be his time spent in Washington. This would play as an asset to Mitt Romney. From an ideological standpoint, Mitt Romney is closer to the political center than Reagan. President Reagan can best be described as a conservative, but nor far-right. Romney is center-right. The economic policies of Mitt Romney are more concerned with deficit reduction, where as President Reagan was more concerned with tax relief and reform. However, Mitt Romney's foreign policies are closer to that of Reagan than his economic policies. Romney's ideology contrasts with Reagan's much in the way President Reagan and George H.W. Bush contrasted. Texas Governor Rick Perry, like Reagan, began his career as a democrat. He then switched parties, ran for Agriculture Commissioner and then Governor of Texas. As Governor and as a presidential candidate, Rick Perry has offered a few reforms, but he has lacked as much substance as some of his fellow candidates. Rick Perry's anti-Washington attitude would appeal to President Reagan, but the way in which he conducts himself would not impress America's 40th President. Then, there is Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Like Reagan, Rick Santorum has stood on principle, but he has been effective in working across the aisle. Santorum is an adherent to the Reagan "three legged stool" of a strong military, strong economy, and strong families. However, there have been very few times when Rick Santorum has admitted failure, and President Reagan did admit when he was wrong. It is my belief that America's 40th President would, if he were going to endorse, decide between Gingrich, Romney, Perry, and Santorum. It is my belief that Newt Gingrich would be the likely winner of President Reagan's endorsement. Newt Gingrich is doing what Reagan did in 1980; running on big ideas, running on his record, and trying to be optimistic. The negative campaigning of Perry and Romney would hurt them in trying to win Reagan's endorsement, and Newt Gingrich is closer to Reagan's ideology than Rick Santorum.