2012 Republican Primary

**Republican Presidential Contenders' Economic Plans**

The most interesting is Herman Cain's plan of 9-9-9 that calls for 9% federal income tax, 9% corporate tax and 9% national sales tax. Cain claimed that his 9-9-9 plan would create 6 million new jobs.

However, the credit for crafting the most comprehensive economic plan goes to Mitt Romney for his 59-point, 150-page plan. Romney claimed that his elaborate plan would create 11.5 million new jobs during his first term.

Rick Perry unveiled his own plan on October 14, 2011 in Pittsburg. His plan is based on the premise of expanding the domestic energy production radically, including opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, accessing oil and gas in western states, in the Gulf, southern Atlantic Coast and Alaskan Seas. His plan will create 1.2 million new energy-related jobs over the next 14 years.

Summary of Tax Plans Unveiled by Various Republican Candidates (As of November 5, 2011--The Dallas Morning News)

(I) Personal Income Tax

Current Rates are : 10%; 15%; 25%; 28%; 33% and 35%
10% (Married Filing Jointly: 0-17,400 Single: 0-8,700)
15% (Married Filing Jointly: 17,400-70,700 Single: 8,700-35,350)
25% (Married Filing Jointly: 70,700-142,700 Single: 35,350-85,650)
28% (Married Filing Jointly: 142,700-217,450 Single: 85,650-178,650)
33% (Married Filing Jointly: 217,450-388,350 Single: 178,650-388,350)
35% (Married Filing Jointly: Over 388,350 Single: Over 388,350)

Cain: 9% Flat tax on Personal Incomes and 9% national sales tax

Gingrich: Optional flat tax rate of 15%

Jon Huntsman: Eliminate all deductions and credits for three lower rates of 8%, 14% and 23%. Eliminate AMT.

Perry: Optional flat tax rate of 20% or keep current rate

Romney: Extend Bush Tax cuts

(II) Corporate Tax Rate
Now 35%

Cain--9%
Gingrich--12.5%
Huntsman--25%; tax holiday for repatriation of foreign earnings
Perry--20%; repatriate foreign earnings by paying 5.25% tax for a limited time
Romney--25%

(III) Capital Gains Tax
Now 15%

Cain--Eliminate
Gingrich--Eliminate
Huntsman--Eliminate
Perry--Eliminate qualified dividends, long-term capital gains
Romney--Eliminate for adjusted gross income under $200,000

(IV) Estate Tax
Currently, up to $5 million per individual exempted, and top rate after that 35%

Cain--Eliminate
Gingrich--Eliminate
Huntsman--No position stated
Perry--Eliminate
Romney--Eliminate


Michelle Bachman supports a flat tax, but has not laid out any detail

Ron Paul stated that he would abolish personal income tax

Rick Santorum has not released any tax plan

**Republican Presidential Contenders' Economic Plans**

Daunted by sexual harassment allegation by several women, Herman Cain on December 3, 2011 bowed out of the Republican race for President.

IOWA CAUCUSSES (January 3, 2012)
----------------------------------------------
Rick Santorum 29,839 (24.6%)
Mitt Romney 29,805 (24.5%)
Ron Paul 26,036 (21.4%)
Newt Gingrich 16,163 (13.3%)
Rick Perry 12,557 (10.3%)
Michele Bachmann 6,046 ( 5.0%)
Jon Huntsman 739 ( 0.6%)
Herman Cain 58 ( 0% )
Buddy Roemer 31 ( 0% )
No Preference 135 ( 0.1%)
Other 117 ( 0.1%)
______________________________________________

IOWA CAUCUSSES (January 3, 2012)

***** New Hampshire Primary (January 10, 2012) ****

----------------------------------------------
Mitt Romney 97,532 (39.3%)
Ron Paul 56,848 (22.9%)
Jon Huntsman 41,945 (16.9%)
Newt Gingrich 23,411 ( 9.4%)
Rick Santorum 23,362 ( 9.4%)
Rick Perry 1,766 ( 0.7%)
Michele Bachmann 349 ( 0.1%)
Others 3,272 ( 1.3%)
______________________________________________

***** New Hampshire Primary (January 10, 2012) ****

**** South Carolina Primary (January 21, 2012) ****

Newt Gingrich 243,172 (40.4%)
Mitt Romney 167,297 (27.8%)
Rick Santorum 102,061 (17%)
Ron Paul 78,000 (13%)
Other 10,685 (1.8%)

**** South Carolina Primary (January 21, 2012) ****

***** Florida Primary (January 31, 2012)******

Mitt Romney 775,014 (46.4%)
Newt Gingrich 533,117 (31.9%)
Rick Santorum 222,799 (13.3%)
Ron Paul 117,104 (7%)
Others 21,613 (1.3%)

***** Florida Primary (January 31, 2012)******

****** Nevada Caucus (February 4, 2012) *****Romney 16,486 (50.1%)
Gingrich 6,956 (21.1%)
Paul 6,175 (18.8%)
Santorum 3,277 (10.0%)
Others 0 (0%)

******* Colorado Caucus (February 7, 2012)*******
Santorum 26,614 (40.3%)
Romney 23,012 (34.9%)
Gingrich 8,445 (12.8%)
Paul 7,759 (11.8%)
Others 197 (0.3%)

***** Minnesota Caucus (February 7, 2012)******
Santorum 21,932 (44.9%)
Paul 13,228 (27.1%)
Romney 8,222 (16.9%)
Gingrich 5,272 (10.8%)
Others 141 (0.3%)

****** Missouri Caucus (February 7, 2012) *****
Santorum 138,977 (55.2%)
Romney 63,826 (25.3%)
Paul 30,641 (12.2%)
Others 18,444 ( 7.3%)

***Michigan Primary (February 28, 2012) *****
Romney 409,899 (41.1%)
Santorum 377,521 (37.9%)
Paul 115,712 (11.6%)
Gingrich 65,016 (6.5%)
Others 29,024 (2.9%)

** Arizona Primary (February 28, 2012) ***
Romney 216,805 (47.3%)
Santorum 122,088 (26.6%)
Gingrich 74,110 (16.2%)
Paul 38,753 (8.4%)
Others 6,875 (1.5%)


** Washington Caucuses (March 3, 2012) **
Romney 19,111 (37.6%)
Paul 12,594 (24.8%)
Santorum 12,089 (23.8%)
Gingrich 5,221 (10.3%)
Others 1,749 (3.4%)


SUPER TUESDAY (MARCH 6, 2012)
419 delegates up for grab

State Winner
-----------------------------
AK Romney
GA Gingrich
ID Romney
MA Romney
ND Santorum
OH Romney
OK Santorum
TN Santorum
VT Romney
WY Romney
-------------------------------

In all but two of the elections since 1904, candidates who won Ohio became the President of the USA. By 12,000 votes, Ohio rejected President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, although the Vice Presidential candidate in Thomas Dewey's ticket was the governor of the state. In 1960, Ohio handed out victory to  Richard Nixon although nationally he had trailed J.F. Kennedy.

After trouncing Santorum in Puerto Rico Primary last weekend, Romney won the Illinois Primary on March 20, 2012 with decisive margin (Romney 47%; Santorum 35%; Paul 9%; Gingrich 8%). As of March 20, Romney has 563 delegates, Santorum has 263 delegates, Gingrich has 136 delegates and Ron Paul has 50 delegates. Romney needs 1,144 delegates to win the nomination.

Santorum won the March 24, 2012, Louisiana Republican primary (Santorum-49%; Romney-26%; Gingrich-16% and Paul-6%)

April 3, 2012 Republican Primary
DC    Romney
Wisconsin   Romney
Maryland Romney

On April 10, 2012, Santorum suspended his campaign.