Staff Editorial: Republican Presidential Candidates

While the race for the Republican presidential nomination has by no means been absolutely one-sided, with Rick Santorum ultimately being declared the winner in Iowa and Gingrich winning in South Carolina, many members of the public and pundits alike have anticipated that Romney would secure his party's nomination for the presidency.

However, recent national polls show Santorum gaining somewhat of an advantage over Romney, who is known for not being especially popular among conservative voters. With the Republican primary season shaping up to be quite interesting, The Hilltop staff decided to take the time out to reflect on how these candidates could possibly affect the future state of our union because, regardless of whom we're rooting for, our decisions should be informed and not automatic.

Aside from questions about the level of his conservatism, throughout the campaign, Romney has been accused of being out of touch with mainstream society due to his great personal wealth.

While he and his fellow candidates alike have dismissed these assertions and argued that Romney's wealth is a result of hard work that reflects American values to which all the candidates hope to return the country, Romney's recent claim about not being "concerned about the very poor"—regardless of the middle class emphasis he may have hoped to convey with his words--did not do much to help his case.

On the other hand, Romney's success in business and self-described focus on a "smaller, smarter, simpler government" that cuts taxes, spending, and government programs appeals to many voters.

Santorum has also shared his opinions on the issue of economic equality. He recently acknowledged the past and present existence of income inequality as well as his "hope" that "there always will be." However, his insistence on tradition and returning things to the way that they once were in terms of his opposition to issues like gay marriage and abortion, his desire to defend the right to bear arms, as well as his desire to repeal "Obamacare" are what make him the true conservative that has fueled his political rise during this election season.

In keeping with many of his opponents' views on wealth and the poor, Gingrich also offered his own reasons for the behavior of poor children, saying that they "have no habits of working" and that "nobody around them works." However, national security seems to be one of the big points of focus for the former Speaker of the House's campaign.

Among his seven sound policies to keep America safe are understanding our enemies and telling the truth about them, knowing our values, securing the border, and improving the teaching of math and science in America.

Largely billed as the candidate who is the most popular among the youth, like his fellow politicians, Ron Paul has endured his own share of controversy following the reveal of racist newsletters with which he was affiliated as a producer.

Although Paul denied knowledge that racist material had been published in the newsletters, such an apparent oversight did not go over well. Paul's "Restore America" campaign seeks to reduce taxes, defend gun rights, and support homeschooling, among many other things.

Our View: As current and prospective voters, no matter what our political affiliations or preferences, it is important for us to be informed about the people and ideas that will undoubtedly affect our lives.