GOP presidential race 2012

      Recognizing how early it is I am willing to make two predictions about the Republican race right now.  The first is that Mitt Romney is the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama.  The second is that in spite of his name recognition and well financed campaign he is the least likely to be nominated.  The problem he faces is that the tea party voters have a strong influence in the nominating process.

Mitt Romney was responsible for bringing a government based health care system to Massachusetts.  The second problem he faces is that he is a fiscally responsible conservative.  He recognizes that sometimes raising taxes is a good idea, and that tax cuts for the rich does not fix our economy.  The last reason he will not be nominated is that social conservatives simply will not vote a mormon.  That means that he loses six or seven southern states.