Given President Barack Obama's ineptitude, many Americans wonder why anyone would think of giving him a second term.
But his fundraising ability, his support from special-interest groups and the unskeptical media coverage he enjoys guarantee that unseating him will not be easy, despite the dismal economy, the massive debt and the rising international threats that America faces -- in considerable part because of his irresponsible policies.
And yet, we must acknowledge that the Republican prospects do not represent everything we want in a presidential candidate, either.
Any of the GOP hopefuls -- former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich or Texas Congressman Ron Paul -- would be an improvement on Obama. Each has considerable private-sector and/or political experience, as well as an understanding of the need to halt the explosive growth of government.
By contrast, the president's lack of wisdom is apparent in everything from the disastrous $862 billion "stimulus" to unconstitutional ObamaCare to his unwillingness to confront the Iranian nuclear threat to his shocking belief that we should "negotiate" with the radical Muslim Taliban in Afghanistan, which sheltered the al-Qaida terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on 9/11.
But we don't want only a Republican who is better than Obama; we want one who will excel. And the GOP candidates have not only strengths but some weaknesses, too.
Many voters wonder whether Romney, a successful businessman, will be conservative enough on social issues such as abortion. Gingrich championed welfare reform and pro-growth policies in Congress that helped build prosperity. But he has been hit with lurid allegations that he asked his second wife for an "open marriage." He flatly denies doing that, but his multiple marriages make it fair to question his personal judgment. Santorum is admirably socially conservative, but it's unclear whether he can raise the money or inspire voters to the degree necessary to defeat Obama. And Paul, while he laudably wants to restore constitutional limits to federal power, has dangerously naive views on Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.
With it probably being too late for anyone else to jump into the GOP race at this point, it would be wise to listen carefully to each candidate in the coming weeks, consider his record and vote for the one you believe has the best combination of sound policies and principles, as well as the ability to rally voters.
That offers the best chance of defeating Obama.