THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Of all the rest of the prospective nominees left in the Republican Party pool of candidates running in 2012 , for the presidency of the United States, Newt Gingrich comes first on the list of many political pundits. Why? Because, he has more experience in government than the rest of "the pack", so to speak.

Although, a few of them have been governors, and some were still governors, their expertise slightly fell short, with respect to the mechanism or the practicability of how things actually worked, particularly, in the Congress of the United States, and generally, in the federal government as a whole.

As such, he, Gingrich, happens to have much more knowledge of the ins and outs of Washington D.C.'s political and social organs and circles; a quality, which in itself is an asset for anyone running for office.

In other words, he has had a shot as speaker of the House of Representative during the Reagan era, and has managed to maintain his ties with the political machinery that drove his party and formulated its policies, even when he was away from the center of action or activities of it (party).

The Republican Contract with America in the historic 1994 midterm elections, which won a majority in Congress for his party should be a good example. It still stands out as a great political achievement.

Next comes former governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, whose business background qualifies him to be considered for the party's nomination. His relationship with the business world and his reputation as the head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics organizing Committee, give him much credibility for his managerial acumen. The games were actually in monetary crisis; but he managed to successfully bring them to fruition in the end, with a surplus to boot.

However, both men have what can be described as "political baggage", which is a hindrance, judging from the reaction of both the media and the general public; a drawback consisting of infidelity accusations, in the case of Newt Gingrich; and a stumbling block or a bump caused by a questionable Massachusetts Healthcare Reform, in regard to Mitt Romney; respectively.

He refuses to equally compare its ramifications with the National Healthcare reform, which has recently been passed into law by Congress, with the signature of President Barack Obama. The snafu has generated so much political outcry and uproar, some say, to his (Romney's) disadvantage.

Any of the two men, Gingrich or Romney, can receive his party's nod for the nomination; but the scandal surrounding each of them, individually and separately, of course, makes them doubtful of their acceptance by the general public, and therefore the American voter.

With Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee dropping out of the presidential race, the rest of the field, which includes Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, Congressman Ron Paul, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and others, is still wide open, without a clear cut front runner or a probable nominee for the Republican Party; someone who will be ready and prepared to run against the Democratic Party incumbent, Barack Obama, for the presidency of the United States in 2012.

He (Obama) is running for re-election, while they are attempting to replace him; a formidable feat, looking at it from every aspect and direction; especially, since he has recently succeeded in getting rid of Osama Bin Laden, the flamboyant architect of the erstwhile 9/11 attacks that have almost crippled the economy of the United States, and killing nearly 3000 American citizens.

All of these, as mentioned above, are the names of competent people on the list of the Republican National Committee; but they are yet, or at least one of them is yet, to be selected to represent the Republican Party in the said forthcoming 2012 presidential election.

The nation awaits, with much trepidation, for a front runner, who will go on to become his or her party's choice. Nevertheless, the speculation is on Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney emerging as the Republican Party's candidate. It will then be each person's privilege to pick someone to run on the party ticket. They can both choose Congresswoman Michele Bachmann or Gov. Tim Pawlenty to be the running mate of either men.

P.S. Don't look at me; I am just expressing my views. Besides, I am an independent voter.