Pick 'Best Person' to Beat Obama, Stetson College Activist Urges

Stetson University College of Law student Andrew Reder believes the ultimate goal in November is to elect a Republican president.

"I think that the momentum is on our side. It's clear that everyone has one goal. We want to pick the best person to defeat President Obama," Reder said.

As President of the Stetson Republicans, Reder has been watching the Republican debates, learning about the candidates and is ready to make an informed decision.

Reder and the student organization are not publicly endorsing a candidate, but he says that whoever is chosen to go up against President Barack Obama in November will be supported.

Reder says that all four remaining GOP candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul – have supporters within the student organization.

Once a Republican candidate is nominated, the group will do everything it can to educate the public and get people to the polls to vote for a Republican president in November.

He feels confident that people want a new face and a new Administration.

"In 2012, voters are going to be faced with the very same thing, 15.2 trillion dollars in debt and an 8.5% unemployment rate," Reder said.

"This is what happens in the private sector. If a business is going under then the board of directors needs to change. That's what we need to see in this country," Reder said.

Reder believes that the country truly has all eyes on Florida today. "Florida is the big early prize. It's not the end all be all, the winner of Florida may not win the nomination. But, who wins Florida is going to have a ton of momentum."

"We're at a turning point in this country. It's a critial election, a critical time in our country."

Reder says Republicans are going to remind people that from 2006 to 2010, Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate and "for two years, this President got everything he wanted." To try and "blame Republicans now, I don't think is going to hold water with voters."

Reder shared his views on the candidates:

• Mitt Romney: Reder commends Mitt Romney on his business background and business success. "I think it's a major plus, his time in the private sector . . . 25 years. But, this is why you’ve already seen the Democrats and the President begrudge his financial success. He made that money being a very successful businessman. It's not something to be ashamed of, since when in this country, do we begrudge financial success?"

• Newt Gingrich: “He’s the only Speaker in our lifetime to balance the budget for four years. I was definetely a Newt Gingrich fan, he just had an incredible tenure as Speaker of the House." Reder agrees with Grinrich and completely supports his efforts to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. "This is our number one issue in our lifetime. It's an issue that Democrats have laughed at and I get sick and tired of it. I'm 25 years old and I'm going to fight, my entire lifetime for a balanced budgetment amendement."

• Rick Santorum: "He really is a social conservatice. He's a fiscal conservative. He was elected as a Congressman and Senator in Pennsylvania."

• Ron Paul: "He has some absolutely wonderful ideas on domestic policy. He is a tremendous proponent for state rights and appeals a lot to small Government Conservatives. He's very persistent. He's been very consistent over the years." As far as the question or talk about Ron Paul winding up running as an Independent? Reder says, "I don't think that's what he's doing."