How would you have voted?: 2012 Republican Presidential Primaries

[Rat]

Another fairly large field, though not as comically big as the 2016 one. Out of this group, Huntsman was my candidate at the time, and would still be the one I'd back with hindsight too. I was also a long-time supporter of Mitt Romney since 2006, and had a bout of Ron Paul fever at one point in college as well, so both him and Johnson were appealing to me. Outside of those choices, Pawlenty was an acceptable (if uninspiring) choice, and while they were more conservative than I'd prefer in a GOP nominee, I was interested Perry, Roemer and Gingrich as well. Herman Cain wasn't a serious candidate to me, but he wasn't someone I was totally opposed to either.

I had no interest in Michelle Bachmann or Rick Santorum.

I voted Huntsman. I think he was the best qualified in terms of experience, and represented a better direction that I wish the GOP had moved toward.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Where's Thaddeus McCotter?

[OSR stands with Israel]

Romney and it’s not even close

[dead0man]

Johnson, not close

[S019]

Romney

[TDAS04]

Huntsman I guess.

[President Johnson]

Huntsman as preferred potential president.

As nominee from a strategic standpoint? One of the nutjobs like Bachman so that Obama was going to win by a larger margin and potentially the House back for Democrats.

[Goldwater]

At the time, I actually supported Gingrich of all people. But voting based on how I am now, probably Johnson.

[OSR stands with Israel]

At the time, I actually supported Gingrich of all people. But voting based on how I am now, probably Johnson.

Why don’t you like Romney?

[Goldwater]

At the time, I actually supported Gingrich of all people. But voting based on how I am now, probably Johnson.

Why don’t you like Romney?

I got the impression that he was an inconsistent flip-flopper. As for the other candidates, Santorum was obviously way too extremely socially conservative and Ron Paul was bad on foreign policy, so Gingrich seemed like the best option to my 17 year old self.

[Goldwater]

FWIW, I don't dislike Romney now, I just like Johnson more. If I were to rank these candidates now, it would probably be something like:

[1] Johnson
[2] Romney   
[3] Huntsman
[4] Roemer
[5] Pawlenty
[6] Gingrich
[7] Paul
[8] Cain
[9] Perry
[10] Santorum
[11] Bachmann

[Mr. Smith]

Att, Huntsman since I was a very strongly convicted Mormon and found Romney to be an embarrassment.

By where I am now, probably Buddy Roemer or Rick Santorum.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Santorum

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

As I've just posted in the 2008 thread, this was a pretty straightforward dynamic throughout between Romney and a candidate further to the right (that said candidate changed on an almost monthly basis).

If Trump, Christie or Daniels had entered or if Huntsman and Pawlenty had gained traction then it would have been more complicated.

[West_Midlander]

Karger

[VPH]

Buddy Roemer went to Occupy Wall Street and made one of his biggest issues ridding politics of corporate influence. His campaign never took off, but he was out there talking about restoring American innovation and taking on China in 2012.

Huntsman would have been good too. Pretty solid on foreign policy and moderate on domestic stuff.

[1] Roemer
[2] Huntsman

[dw93]

[1] Roemer
[2] Huntsman
[3] Johnson
[4] Romney
[5] Pawlenty
[6] Paul
[7] Gingrich
[8] Cain
[9] Perry
[10] Santorum
[11] Bachman

[beaver2.0]

At the time I really liked Huntsman but looking back I'd vote for Buddy Roemer.

[Lechasseur]

Romney

[SilverStar]

Ron Paul

[Medal506]

Rick Santorum

[Upper Canada Tory]

When I was watching the GOP primary back in 2012, I actually supported Rick Santorum at the time - but this was 12 years ago and I was more right-wing back then than I am today.

In hindsight, I'd probably have backed Mitt Romney in 2012.

[Medal506]

When I was watching the GOP primary back in 2012, I actually supported Rick Santorum at the time - but this was 12 years ago and I was more right-wing back then than I am today.

In hindsight, I'd probably have backed Mitt Romney in 2012.

Romney lost though. Santorum likely would have won

[SilverStar]

When I was watching the GOP primary back in 2012, I actually supported Rick Santorum at the time - but this was 12 years ago and I was more right-wing back then than I am today.

In hindsight, I'd probably have backed Mitt Romney in 2012.

Romney lost though. Santorum likely would have won

He wouldn't flipped any State from 2008 except from Indiana and he could lose Arizona.

[Never Made it to Graceland]

When I was watching the GOP primary back in 2012, I actually supported Rick Santorum at the time - but this was 12 years ago and I was more right-wing back then than I am today.

In hindsight, I'd probably have backed Mitt Romney in 2012.

Romney lost though. Santorum likely would have won

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