Potential 2012 GOP presidential candidates

His campaign shaken by high-profile defections, the former House speaker says, “I will endure the challenges. I will carry the message of American renewal to every part of this great land.... And with the help of every American who wants to change Washington, we will prevail.”  (John Bazemore / Associated Press)

Former U.S. ambassador to China and Utah governor Jon Huntsman appears to be gambling that he can position himself slightly to the left of the other Republicans and turn his opponents’ image-shifting into an advantage.   (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas won the presidential straw poll for the second year in a row at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.  (Laura Segall / Getty Images)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the early Republican favorite. But despite his deep pockets and presidential-campaign experience from 2008, one of his biggest problems, says a GOP pollster, is “a suspicion that he is not as authentic as voters would like and he doesn’t connect as well with voters as they would like.” Also, some religious conservatives are uneasy with Romney’s devout Mormon beliefs. Above, he waves to fans before the Daytona 500 NASCAR auto race.  (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania launched his campaign on June 6, and has said, “Someone has to have the courage to tell the American public we can’t afford the government we have right now and we need to cut it back across the board.”  (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)