Why republicans should be optimistic.

Going into the 2012 primaries, republicans can be thankful they have 2 front-runners with proven track records of governing, and an ability to beat Barack Obama next fall and govern the nation. Newt Gingrich has a record of leading the effort to balance the federal budget, pay down $400 billion in debt, reform welfare, pass anti-crime legislation, and pass the largest capital gains tax relief in U.S. history, which led to 11 million new jobs over 4 years. Mitt Romney has an impressive business career and as Governor of liberal Massachusetts, he fought to cut government, erase a budget deficit, reform welfare, balance the budget, enforce immigration laws, and stand up for increased benefits for those soliders returning home from overseas. Romney did fight for tax cuts, but only won on minor fights and failed to pass broad-based tax relief. As candidates for President, both Gingrich and Romney are running very different campaigns; Newt has run on bold ideas from day one, and he is running as the candidate of the grassroots and the conservative-wing of the party. Mitt Romney is running as a "conservative businessman" with more basic ideas that can appeal to centrists. While both candidates face some minor problems with the electorate, both are proven to be competent and articulate. Newt Gingrich is intelligent, truthful, and confident where as Romney is careful, thoughtful, and reasonable sounding. There is little doubt that both men are imperfect candidates, but either one of them could make the case they can do a better job leading the nation in the next 4 years and based on their records and platforms, they could. There should be little doubt both men come from different places, have different back rounds, and have different political ideologies. Newt Gingrich came from modest circumstances in which his father was in the military. He was a college professor before (and while at the national defense university) becoming a Congressman, House Minority Leader, House Speaker, political commentator and activist, author, movie-maker, consultant, and think-tank leader. His approach to government seems similar to that of George W. Bush in that he believes people should run their lives but government should help make people's lives easier; such is the case in his support for research into health insurance and replacing the EPA with an "environmental solutions agency." However, Speaker Gingrich is like Reagan in that he favors lower taxes, free markets, and fewer regulations. Gingrich is generally a conservative, but there is little doubt he also has an independent streak in him. Mitt Romney comes from a different place than Speaker Gingrich. He was born to a wealthy family, though his parents instilled in him the value of hard work. He learned a lot from being a mormon missionary. Mitt Romney spent most of his life in the private sector, and he was successful in doing such. He was a center-right Governor in a far-left state. Romney appears to be a deficit hawk; he has favored spending cuts that exceed tax cuts both as Governor of Massachusetts and as a 2012 republican presidential candidate. Romney is certainly closer to the political center than Speaker Gingrich. Where as Newt Gingrich is a conservative with an independent streak, Romney appears to be a center-right republican with a conservative streak. However, the fundamental beliefs of the base of the GOP are represented in each individual; both are for lower taxes, less spending, and limited government & regulations, both are against the continued flow of illegal immigration, both have strict-constructionist judicial philosophies, both support a "peace through strength" foreign policy, both are for returning power back to states, and both are for the repeal of Obamacare. No matter if Gingrich or Romney is the nominee, republicans will have a candidate who represents them well; though there should be little doubt Newt Gingrich is closer to the base of the party, Mitt Romney is not a total "RINO," he tends to agree with what the base says though not consistently on every issue. However, republicans should bear in mind that even Ronald Reagan strayed away from the right-wing on immigration and corporate income taxes.