I watched the entire Republican debate this evening from New Hampshire. Four people who are expected to run for president weren't there: Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, and Gary Johnson. Of the seven who attended, my preference ranking is as follows:
- Herman Cain.
- Michele Bachmann.
- Rick Santorum.
- Mitt Romney.
- Tim Pawlenty.
- Newt Gingrich.
- Ron Paul.
This ranking has nothing to do with (1) who I think can win (whatever that means) or (2) who I think will win (in other words, it's not a prediction). I don't vote for the person I think can win or will win; I vote for the person I want to preside over this country. I have no idea why anyone would vote on any other basis.
Addendum: The seven debaters are academically and occupationally diverse. There are four lawyers (Romney, Bachmann, Pawlenty, and Santorum), two MBAs (Romney and Santorum), an M.S. (Cain), an M.D. (Paul), and a Ph.D. (Gingrich). Only one (Romney) is an Ivy Leaguer (Harvard). There are two governors (Romney and Pawlenty), one businessman (Cain), one U.S. senator (Santorum), and three U.S. representatives (Bachmann, Gingrich, and Paul).
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 