First, if you think it’s too early to talk about the election, you are wrong. The campaigning is in full swing. States are leapfrogging one another to hold primaries as early as possible. The first primary voting could potentially happen by the end of this calendar year. Each party has around a dozen candidates, and we’ve already seen a handful of televised debates.

Next, I like the Republican slate of candidates. Rather than a bunch of unknowns or has-beens, we have a diverse group of successful, well-know prospects.

I know a lot of my friends are unhappy with the Republican choices--though I’m not exactly sure why. Consider this: We are electing a President, not a Savior. God took care of the Savior part a couple thousand years ago. Republicans need to stop seeking perfection and purity from their candidates, because they won’t get it from any earthly being. Instead, we need to seek out the men that will do the best job for the country and the party.

As Donald Rumsfeld once said, “You go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had.” Republicans need to get behind these top-tier candidates, learn what they are about, and be prepared to support them when they “go to war” in the general election. Let’s build these guys up and focus on the strengths they bring to the table.

Remember, an un-electable candidate doesn’t do us any good. Any Republican will be light years better than any of the Democrats, so let’s nominate someone who can win.

Now, what about the specific candidates?

Giuliani—A solid leader with proven results in a city with a population bigger than most states; I believe he would be a great President; His campaign is struggling a bit, but most polls place him on top right now.

F. Thompson—He just got in the race, so it remains to be seen how he’ll fair. If I had to guess, either Thompson or Giuliani will be the Republican nominee. Unfortunately, former senators almost never get elected to the Presidency, and Thompson’s limited experience may hamper his chances.

Romney—A solid candidate with a great organization; He seems to be running the best campaign by far. Unfortunately, he lacks name recognition and broad support. With Thompson in the race, it’ll be hard for Romney to break through.

McCain—His campaign is struggling, and I don’t believe he has much chance in the primary. Still, I’d rather see this honorable war hero in the oval office than the former first lady.

Tancredo and others—These may all be great guys, but they don’t stand a chance. With 3 or 4 well known, well-funded candidates at the top of the field, there just isn’t much room for others to break through. If you support one of these men, then send them an email. Tell them to drop out of the Presidential race ASAP and focus on earning back their Legislative or Statewide seats. If you’re committing money to the Presidential race, then save it for one of the guys at the top.

One last note—

Immigration is a loser issue for Republicans. The party is divided on the topic. For some reason, immigration has become the hot-button issue for many in the party. Disagreement over this issue was probably a large contributor to Republican losses during the last election. The safest position for Republicans to take is one that treats tough border security as a key component of national defense. Anything less and a candidate will be unable to rally the base-level support he needs to win the election.