Left, Michael Reagan and Armand in 1977.Michael Reagan, eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan, recently gave his assessment of the GOP candidates for president in the 2012 elections at the National Rifle Association's annual conference in Pittsburgh.
Source: Newsmax.com
In a brutally frank assessment of the potential Republican candidates, he picked them apart one by one, saying he did not believe either former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee or former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would run. Of the others, he said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney needs to “talk to people who are at the water cooler, not the person who owns the water cooler,” and former Sen. Rick Santorum needs more than just the pro-life issue to win the presidency.
He said both Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and businessman Herman Cain have to reach out beyond their tea party base if they are to be serious candidates.
“It’s like if I’m only doing Fox [News] and I’m a candidate and everybody who watched me on Fox votes for me. I’m only going to lose by 57 million votes.” He said Bachmann could be a viable vice presidential candidate if she expanded her horizons, but was not ready for the presidency.
Reagan, the oldest of Ronald Reagan’s three surviving children, described former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as having “more baggage than bags,” adding: “That’s a problem for Newt.”
He praised Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels for showing leadership by defunding Planned Parenthood in Indiana, but says he “has to learn to command a room a little bit better,” while former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has “the least baggage of anybody,” but “needs a little shot of charisma.”
“Every one of them has work they could do and things they need to learn,” said Reagan. “First they need to learn to listen and move forward from there.
“If you could take some of these candidates to show the passion of Michelle Bachmann it would upgrade and uplift the males in the race,” he added.
Reagan also got in a dig at President Obama:
Despite his criticism of the potential candidates, Reagan’s harshest words were for Obama. “Jimmy Carter’s the only one happy with the Obama administration,” he said. “It means he will not go down as the worst president this country’s ever had.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Michael Reagan: It's Time to Look Beyond My Dad for a GOP Champion
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