2012 Republican Declared and Potential Presidential Candidates

Mitt Romney. Former Massachusetts governor and current front runner for the 2012 nomination, Romney lost the nomination to John McCain in 2008. Touts background in business but faces criticism from conservatives over his health care program in Massachu

Rick Perry. Texas Governor is running in second or third place in most public opinion polls behind Romney. Perry has a strong record of job creation in Texas and appeals to economic and social conservatives, key voting blocs within the party. (Patrick S

Michele Bachmann. Congresswoman from Minnesota. Known for her ability to excite crowds and popular with Evangelical Christians and Tea Party conservatives. (Brian Snyder / Reuters)

Newt Gingrich. Former U.S. House speaker and congressman from Georgia. Gingrich is known as an "ideas man" within the Republican Party and an Obama foreign policy critic, but has had some early stumbles in his campaign. (Jason Reed / Reuters)

Ron Paul. Veteran Texas Congressman with Libertarian views, and the only Republican contender opposed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Alison Klein/VOA)

Rick Santorum. Former two term senator from Pennsylvania and an outspoken social conservative opposed to abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research. (Alison Klein/VOA)

Herman Cain. Georgia businessman and former CEO of a large American pizza franchise. Popular with Tea Party conservatives seeking to limit the power of government. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Gary Johnson. Former New Mexico governor little known nationally but sets himself apart from the Republican field with his support for abortion rights and the legalization of marijuana. (Richard Shiro/AP)

Jon Huntsman. Former Utah governor and until this year served as President Obama's ambassador to China. Huntsman is little known nationally but hopes to position himself as a moderate acceptable to conservative Republicans. (Cheryl Senter/AP)

Sarah Palin. Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican candidate for vice president. Popular with social conservatives opposed to abortion and Tea Party activists pushing to limit the power of the federal government. Still considering whether to run.

Rudy Giuliani. Former New York City Mayor. Demonstrated strong leadership after 9/11 terror attacks. Some Republican religious conservatives question his commitment to their stands on abortion, gay marriage and gun control. Giuliani is reportedly consi