2012 Republican Race Walking for Presidential Nomination

Odd-looking race walking event in dull and grey surroundings. Slow and boring. We maybe watched competitors at the start line, but will we be there to see them at the finish line?

It’s not one of those athletics events we never watch during the Summer Olympic Games, but very long, slow and grueling campaign for the Republican presidential nomination with never-ending debates, months of continued scuffling, bickering, and offensive TV political adds.

Like in the case of choosing race walking as an Olympic event, one may wonder whether choosing similar format for the 2012 U.S. Republican Presidential Nomination race was a smart idea.

Imagine tuning into LIVE, but surely not LIVEly, commentary from the Republican Race Walking event: “Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are in the lead. They look reasonably fit and hold their positions well. But, mind you, it’s only walking. Far behind are Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. Fading badly. All four of them are actively making insulting and provocative comments about one another but mainly about people watching the event. It’s all very bizarre and extremely unpleasant. We’ll let you know the purpose of this, if there’s any, as soon as we gather more information. Romney and Santorum are very slowly approaching the… I’m sorry, but I’m not sure where they are right now. I tuned out for a moment to watch - in the spirit of the competition - ‘Gone with the Wind’. It actually doesn’t really matter where Romney and Santorum are at the moment because they still have a very long way to go - you’re watching the 300-mile special edition race walking event. Tune in tomorrow for the update, but I can already tell you that the race will look exactly the same. Also, as of tomorrow, you can only watch the coverage online since, due to very low and fast dropping ratings, we’ve been canceled. Bye for now.”

Some Republicans grow wary of this longer campaign and fear that it’ll backfire and damage the party’s chances against President Barack Obama. And they may be just right. Recent polls show Obama is opening a sizable lead over his Republican opponents.

Obama is gaining support among female voters while Republican candidates are alienating women by choosing social issues like contraception and abortion as an important part of their political discourse.

Obama is the overwhelming choice among Latino voters while the position of Republican candidates on immigration issues is becoming more disparate from the views of Hispanic population.

Republicans wanted to test their presidential candidates with a longer and more demanding campaign. The plan is failing rather miserably. Watching this race for the Republican Party presidential nomination is like watching Mike Tyson, at the age of 80, taking part in race walking – still fit enough to walk but not properly equipped to deliver his famous "bite"; it doesn’t work without teeth.

"It" doesn’t work without a respectful, clever, and logical presidential campaign.

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“Is it over yet?”

Not yet. It will be. One day in the not so near future.

“Whatever... Just wake me up when it's time to vote for Obama.”

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