So, Who Should Be the Face of the GOP?

In my previous article, I discussed why Republican front runners, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Huckabee are not fit to be the face of the Republican Party. They have been too scarred by the media and their previous legislation. Republicans need to win the independent vote by significant margins. Independents, the largest growing electorate, tends to have fiscally conservative and socially liberal beliefs, so Republicans need a candidate that has the ability to attract attention to their fiscal policies, rather than social issues. There are options at the Republicans’ disposal to attract independent votes, and both of them come from the same state.

There has been a lot of media coverage recently about Florida governor Charlie Crist, who is falling behind in the GOP primary. There have been reports that Crist is considering running for the US senate as an independent. If he decides to run as a Republican, however, he could be a future candidate for the presidency despite a likely primary loss in a few months. Deciding not to mount an independent bid would please Republican leaders. As a very moderate Republican, Crist could be successful at winning over independents. Furthermore, Crist is very popular in Florida, which would most likely result in the GOP winning Florida’s electoral votes. Although conservatives would likely support other candidates in the primaries, he would win the conservative vote in the general election because of the increasing displeasure with the radically liberal Obama agenda.

The other good option to be the face of the Republican Party is Crist’s primary challenger, Marco Rubio. Rubio would be a good candidate to lead the GOP in 2012 for a variety of reasons. First, Rubio contradicts the perception that Republicans are the party of old, white men. Rubio brings youth and diversity to the Republican Party, and his presence on the GOP’s ticket would help win the Hispanic vote. Rubio, a staunch conservative, is very popular with the base of the Republican Party, and could focus on fiscal issues to win over independents. Also, Rubio has not been on the national scene for long so he hasn’t been scarred by the ferocious liberal media. Like Crist, Rubio would increase the Republican chances of retaking Florida in the next presidential election. Rubio, if he wins the open senate, could take a page out of the Obama playbook and run for president before his record becomes too tarnished.

Both of Florida’s GOP senate candidates would be quality choices to lead the Republicans in 2012. Crist would be incredibly successful winning over independents, while Rubio would hopefully provide Obamaesque energy to the Republican Party. Winning Florida’s electoral votes would also become much easier, so the Republicans could spend their campaign money in other tossup states. Republicans would be wise to rally behind Rubio or Crist in 2012, as they both have a shot of beating Obama in the general election.