**Mitt Romney**

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is making his second bid for the Republican nomination this year. Romney has business experience working with Bain Capital, an investment firm that buys out companies, turns them around and then resells them. His platform focuses on jobs, healthcare and foreign policy.

Romney’s economic policy focuses on a need to lower taxes while expanding the tax base. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Romney wants to make the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy permanent, cut corporate taxes, eliminate income tax on long-term capital gains for households with under $200,000, eliminate the death tax and repeal the estate tax.

Romney has been criticized for his Massachusetts health care system’s similarities to Obama’s healthcare system, but Romney maintains his system is catered to problems unique to Massachusetts, while “ObamaCare” is a federal “power grab,” according to CNN. The former governor said he would repeal ObamaCare if elected.

On foreign policy, Romney has stated he would support post-revolutionary states Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. He also supports the opposition in Syria, and believes it is “unacceptable” for Iran or North Korea to possess nuclear weapons. Romney has called the withdrawal of troops in Iraq a failure but has not made clear his own plans for Iraq or Afghanistan.

On civil issues, Romney believes in defining marriage as only between one man and one woman and supports repealing Roe v. Wade, although he has been pro-choice in the past.

Graphic:
Economy: Lower taxes and increase the tax base
Healthcare: Repeal Obamacare
Foreign policy: Support post-revolutionary states, address nuclear weapons in Iran and North Korea
Same-sex marriage: Define marriage as a union between one man and one woman
Reproductive rights: Repeal Roe v. Wade

**Newt Gingrich**

A long time Congressman, Newt Gingrich’s bid for the Republican nomination follows more than 30 years in politics, including a term as Speaker of the House. Gingrich is most known for penning the “Contract With America” in 1994, which helped Republicans take control of the House after 40 years of a Democratic majority.

Economically, Gingrich plans to eliminate the capital gains tax, reduce the corporate income tax (to a lower percent than Romney has suggested) and eliminate the death tax. He would also move toward an optional flat tax rate of 15 percent, allowing “Americans the freedom to choose to file their taxes on a postcard.”

If elected, he said he would repeal and replace ObamaCare with a plan with less government involvement. Gingrich has been critical of U.S. involvement in Libya and has said the U.S. needs to “rethink” involvement with the Middle East. He does not support same-sex marriage or abortion rights.

Graphic:
Economy: Eliminate several taxes while simplifying others
Healthcare: Repeal ObamaCare, replace with a “pro-jobs, pro-responsibility” health plan
Foreign policy: Support post-revolutionary states, address nuclear weapons in Iran and North Korea
Same-sex marriage: Define marriage as a union between one man and one woman
Reproductive rights: Repeal Roe v. Wade, defund Planned Parenthood

**Ron Paul**

The 2012 primaries mark Rep. Ron Paul’s second grab for the Republican nomination and his third for the presidency, as he ran as a Libertarian in 1988. Paul focuses on principles of liberty and Constitutional validity.

He has pledged to end the Federal Reserve System, as well as never raise the debt ceiling if elected. He would also end income, capital gains and death taxes. Paul said he would repeal ObamaCare, make it legal to purchase health insurance across state lines and give a payroll deduction to workers who are primary caregivers of people with terminal illnesses.

Paul has said securing the border with Mexico would be his top national security priority if elected. He said he would also avoid lengthy, costly wars and would not support post-revolutionary states like Libya. Paul said he believes same-sex marriage and abortion rights should be dealt with on a state level, but has said he would repeal Roe v. Wade and define life as beginning at conception.

Graphic:
Economy: End the Federal Reserve, eliminate several taxes
Healthcare: Repeal ObamaCare, allow purchase of insurance across state lines
Foreign policy: Secure the border, avoid “long and expensive” wars, end “nation-building” in countries like Libya
Same-sex marriage: Federal government should not have a hand in marriage
Reproductive rights: Remove abortion from federal court jurisdiction, define life as beginning at conception

**Rick Santorum**

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum has been active in politics since 1990. His platform concentrates on traditional conservative values.

As a “defender of the taxpayer,” Santorum has said he would simplify personal income taxes by providing only two rates, 10 and 28 percent. He would also eliminate taxes for manufacturing firms, eliminate the death tax and cut corporate income taxes.

Santorum said he believes the government has no place in healthcare and he would repeal ObamaCare. As for foreign relations, Santorum believes Iran is a threat to the U.S. and that the “War on Terrorism” should be redefined as the “War on Radical Islam.” Santorum would build a fence along the border if elected and does not believe in giving government services to undocumented illegal immigrants. He has said the U.S. could have done more in Libya. Santorum does not support same-sex marriage or abortion rights.

Graphic:
Economy: Eliminate taxes for manufacturing firms and the death tax, cut the corporate income tax and simplify tax rates
Healthcare: Repeal ObamaCare
Foreign policy: Iran is a threat; build a fence along Mexican border
Same-sex marriage: Define marriage as a union between one man and one woman
Reproductive rights: Repeal Roe v. Wade, defund Planned Parenthood

Cite:
CNN, mittromney.com, newt.org, ronpaul2012.com, ricksantorum.com, ontheissues.org