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Shortly after newly elected President Barrack Obama took office. Several republicans were rumored to be silently gathering fund for a presidential bid in 2012. Some of these individuals were Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Sarah Palin. This process of early silent preperation for a presidential bid has become known as the invisible primary.
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Since the democratic party had an incumbent President in Barrakc Obama, there was never any real fear he would have a competitor in the 2012 election. However, early rumors indicated Hillary Clinton may attempt a run in 2012. Those rumors would later be squashed. In contrast early rumors were abundant about possible republican candidates.
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By the winter of 2011 most rumors about a serious challanger for democratic President Barrack Obama had fizzled out. However, for republicans things were just heating up several contenders including Mitt Romney, Hermann Cain, and Sarah Bachmann.
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The first Republican debate took place on May 5th, 2011 in Greenville, South Carolina with Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and Rick Santorum participating.
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The first major event of the republican political season had Michelle Bachmann walking away the winner. However her moment was short lived and she began to fall back in the polls not to long afterwards.
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Even though super Tuesday had only about half the impact as it did in 2008, it was still instrumental in Mitt Romney shoring up his status as the presumptive Republican nominee. Romney carried six of the ten states with Rick Santorum carrying three and Newt Ginrich winning one. Even though republicans seemed divided about Romney it appeared he would be the nominee.
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The Rebpublican National Committee announces Romney as the Republican candidate.
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On May 29, 2012 Romney won the Texas primary securing 155 delegates and winning the republican nomination. This seemed to only confirm what most already knew, as Santorum had suspended his campaign in mid-April. With Ginrich following in early May and withdrawing from the process.
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The commission on Presidential debates announced that there will be four presidential debates this campaign cycle. With the dates as follows. October 3, October 11, October 16, and October 22.
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In Novemeber Americans will hit the voting booths across the nation and cast their ballots for he they believe is best suited to lead the country as president. Polls up to this point show that it should be a close election.
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The winner of the general election will become the next president of the United States, and will take office on 1/20/2013
