Letters to the editor for Saturday, June 20, 2015

Too many GOP presidential candidates dangerous

The bloviating bombastic Donald Trump presidential candidacy points up the greatest danger for Republicans in 2016 — the shear size of the candidate field. Will enough Republicans learn that former Gov. Jeb Bush was a successful policy conservative in Florida or that the fiscally experienced Gov. John Kasich won landslide re-election in politically pivotal Ohio in 2014? The large field may obscure worthy candidates from gaining important recognition. For example, a New York Times story (May 22) entitled: “A Hillary Clinton Match-Up With Marco Rubio Is A Scary Thought For Democrats” details advantages Rubio has as an Hispanic candidate, his generational contrast with Clinton and his potential to carry Florida in a general election. With foreign policy an increasingly dominant concern of voters, Rubio knows the details of issues and speaks on them with authority. But are enough Republican voters paying attention?

For lesser known candidates, recognition is even more difficult. The only woman in the field, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina, may be excluded from GOP debates.

Yet, a New York Times story (May 24) entitled: “Carly Fiorina Talks, Iowa Swoons, and Polls Shrug” outlines Fiorina’s rousing stump speech responses from Iowa Republicans, as well as the challenge of becoming well enough known to Republican voters nationally to make an impact.

Jim Hartman

Genoa