President Obama discretely pronounced his campaign for re-election in 2012 on April 4. Any level-headed and logical American would assume that the fact he has earned the lowest support ratings in the history of American politics, would be a slight indicator to Obama that this campaign will be nothing more than a failed endeavor to piss more Americans off. But clearly, President Obama feels otherwise. So far no Republican challengers have ceremoniously declared their candidacy. However, there are a few prime GOP contenders who are considered “all-but-declared” candidates.

One of the top GOP contenders is former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. Romney’s presidential campaign buckled in 2008. However, his political involvement has never rested. And especially now, in a time where our nation has learned to accept financial struggle and scarcity, we need a strong and intelligent leader such as Romney who is heavily skilled and experienced in finance to lift our country out of its recession.

In 2002 the Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The athletic tradition almost didn’t happen due to financial insecurity. Romney was made President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and turned the troubled games around for the better. He implemented multiple financial plans, ideas, and strategies and steered the event into a total success. As a Harvard Law and Business graduate, Romney is versed in both politics and business, a big part of which is finance. Americans need someone who can provide them with a strategy and with options to help them regain control of their individual finances and the nation’s, as a whole, much like Romney did in Salt Lake.

Aside from his obvious intelligence, strong leadership, and financial knowledge, one of the first things Americans recognize about Romney is that he is Mormon. Thirty-three percent of voters said that, if they had planned to vote for Romney, his strict religious affiliation would prevent them from casting their vote in his name.

First of all, what happened to not mixing church and state? Mormonism is an incredibly strict and structured religion. It requires its followers to be both morally and ethically precise. What about that is something we shouldn’t desire in a president? I, along with most of Americans, I hope, don’t want a President who is dishonest and has poor intentions. I don’t want someone who is going to use their charm and money to connive their way into the White House (cough cough O). I want a president who genuinely has the good of my country both at heart and in mind. I want that president to be passionate about their beliefs and especially in what they are doing, which would be leading our nation. Why would I not be pleased with a president that I can respect for his beliefs and, on top of that, his ability to keep his job and obligations separate from his personal beliefs and opinions?

We need to regain control over our government and country. We need someone who is genuine and determined, not to mention has experience.

We need someone who can carry America back to the top and who can relieve our country from its financial stress. That relief is not going to come through taxing and military pay cuts. It’s going to come through a structured plan and method and, furthermore, the execution of that plan.

The bottom line is that Americans were fooled by Obama’s charisma once before. I can’t imagine they would be fooled again. But is the chance worth it?

aachambe@mesastate.edu