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    Presidential Candidates Grades & Comparisons

    Leadership Matrix

    The Leadership Project for America PAC has carefully evaluated and graded all major candidates for president in 2016 on the basis of their character, leadership abilities, political vulnerabilities, and commitment to the principles of free markets, strong national defense, and American exceptionalism.

    We utilize an editorial board, or Grading Team, with deep and broad experience in American politics — people committed to LPA’s ideas, principles and policies — who are practitioners and participants in current affairs. Members of the board remain anonymous to preserve the integrity of the grading process.

    » Read More

    As you will discover, grading candidates is not easy, especially to the degree and depth covered by the Leadership Matrix. There are many competing factors that go into these comprehensive grades and quick reviews would be deceiving. For instance, while we understand that newcomers to political office will have a negligible record, we are concerned when important subjects, such as opinions about the judiciary, are missing from a newcomer’s message. Simply resting atop public opinion polls is not, in and of itself, a sign of high political skills; principled speaking about issues is not the same thing as principled action; and it is quite possible for polar opposite candidates to score equally high on certain criteria or for bitter opponents to be close in scores.

    Click on each candidate to learn more about them and their grade, or compare candidates head-to-head by selecting the checkbox in the upper right of each candidate’s image (up to 5) and then clicking the Compare Candidates button at the bottom of the page.

    » Read Less

    Unchecked Box
    Hillary Clinton for President 2016

    Hillary Clinton

    Final Grade
    F /37
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    Hillary Clinton
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 2
    Principles 2
    National Security 5
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 2
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 6
    Communication 5
    Ethics 1
    Viability 7

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Unchecked Box
    Donald Trump for President 2016

    Donald Trump

    Final Grade
    F /59
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    Donald Trump
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 7
    Principles 5
    National Security 7
    Accomplishments 7
    American Exceptionalism 6
    Political Skills 5
    Consistency 5
    Communication 8
    Ethics 4
    Viability 5

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Compare Candidates
    Out of the running
    The following politicians are currently out of the running for the 2016 election.
    Joe Biden

    Joe Biden

    Final Grade
    F /44
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    Joe Biden
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 3
    Principles 5
    National Security 5
    Accomplishments 1
    American Exceptionalism 3
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 6
    Communication 2
    Ethics 3

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Jeb Bush

    Jeb Bush

    Final Grade
    B /83
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    Jeb Bush
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 9
    Principles 9
    National Security 10
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 6
    Consistency 9
    Communication 8
    Ethics 8

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Ben Carson

    Ben Carson

    Final Grade
    C+ /79
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    Ben Carson
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 6
    Principles 10
    National Security 8
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 10
    Political Skills 6
    Consistency 8
    Communication 8
    Ethics 8

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Lincoln Chafee

    Lincoln Chafee

    Final Grade
    F /51
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    Lincoln Chafee
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 5
    Principles 7
    National Security 5
    Accomplishments 1
    American Exceptionalism 5
    Political Skills 5
    Consistency 8
    Communication 5
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Chris Christie

    Chris Christie

    Final Grade
    D /66
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    Chris Christie
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 8
    Principles 6
    National Security 8
    Accomplishments 8
    American Exceptionalism 6
    Political Skills 6
    Consistency 8
    Communication 9
    Ethics 4

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Ted Cruz

    Ted Cruz

    Final Grade
    B+ /88
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    Ted Cruz
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 10
    Principles 10
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 8
    American Exceptionalism 10
    Political Skills 6
    Consistency 10
    Communication 8
    Ethics 10

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Andrew Cuomo

    Andrew Cuomo

    Final Grade
    F /42
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    Andrew Cuomo
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 6
    Principles 5
    National Security 2
    Accomplishments 6
    American Exceptionalism 2
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 6
    Communication 5
    Ethics 4

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Carly Fiorina

    Carly Fiorina

    Final Grade
    C+ /79
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    Carly Fiorina
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 9
    Principles 8
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 7
    American Exceptionalism 6
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 8
    Communication 9
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Jim Gilmore

    Jim Gilmore

    Final Grade
    D /67
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    Jim Gilmore
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 8
    Principles 8
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 7
    American Exceptionalism 8
    Political Skills 5
    Consistency 10
    Communication 3
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Lindsey Graham

    Lindsey Graham

    Final Grade
    C+ /78
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    Lindsey Graham
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 8
    Principles 9
    National Security 10
    Accomplishments 7
    American Exceptionalism 8
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 9
    Communication 8
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Mike Huckabee

    Mike Huckabee

    Final Grade
    D /63
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    Mike Huckabee
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 4
    Principles 8
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 5
    American Exceptionalism 8
    Political Skills 6
    Consistency 5
    Communication 9
    Ethics 6

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Bobby Jindal

    Bobby Jindal

    Final Grade
    B /85
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    Bobby Jindal
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 9
    Principles 10
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 10
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 10
    Consistency 9
    Communication 8
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    John Kasich

    John Kasich

    Final Grade
    C /76
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    John Kasich
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 8
    Principles 8
    National Security 7
    Accomplishments 8
    American Exceptionalism 8
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 8
    Communication 8
    Ethics 10

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Peter King

    Peter King

    Final Grade
    -- /
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    Peter King
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 0
    Principles 0
    National Security 0
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 0
    Political Skills 0
    Consistency 0
    Communication 0
    Ethics 0

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Martin O’Malley

    Martin O’Malley

    Final Grade
    F /40
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    Martin O'Malley
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 2
    Principles 7
    National Security 2
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 1
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 7
    Communication 5
    Ethics 6

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    George Pataki

    George Pataki

    Final Grade
    F /56
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    George Pataki
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 6
    Principles 5
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 5
    American Exceptionalism 7
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 4
    Communication 4
    Ethics 8

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Rand Paul

    Rand Paul

    Final Grade
    C /76
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    Rand Paul
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 10
    Principles 9
    National Security 5
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 7
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 8
    Communication 8
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Mike Pence

    Mike Pence

    Final Grade
    B /89
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    Mike Pence
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 18
    Principles 9
    National Security 10
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 10
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 8
    Communication 9
    Ethics 10

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Rick Perry

    Rick Perry

    Final Grade
    B /84
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    Rick Perry
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 17
    Principles 9
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 7
    Communication 8
    Ethics 8

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Marco Rubio

    Marco Rubio

    Final Grade
    A- /92
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    Marco Rubio
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 9
    Principles 10
    National Security 10
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 9
    Consistency 8
    Communication 10
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Paul Ryan

    Paul Ryan

    Final Grade
    -- /
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    Paul Ryan
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 0
    Principles 0
    National Security 0
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 0
    Political Skills 0
    Consistency 0
    Communication 0
    Ethics 0

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Bernie Sanders

    Bernie Sanders

    Final Grade
    F /39
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    Bernie Sanders
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 1
    Principles 10
    National Security 2
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 0
    Political Skills 1
    Consistency 8
    Communication 1
    Ethics 10

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Rick Santorum

    Rick Santorum

    Final Grade
    C+ /78
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    Rick Santorum
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 6
    Principles 8
    National Security 10
    Accomplishments 9
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 8
    Consistency 8
    Communication 8
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Scott Walker

    Scott Walker

    Final Grade
    A /93
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    Scott Walker
    Rep. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 19
    Principles 10
    National Security 9
    Accomplishments 10
    American Exceptionalism 9
    Political Skills 9
    Consistency 9
    Communication 8
    Ethics 10

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    Elizabeth Warren

    Elizabeth Warren

    Final Grade
    F /39
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    Elizabeth Warren
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 2
    Principles 9
    National Security 2
    Accomplishments 0
    American Exceptionalism 0
    Political Skills 7
    Consistency 7
    Communication 8
    Ethics 4

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.

    James Webb

    James Webb

    Final Grade
    F /57
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    James Webb
    Dem. View Full Profile
    Free Markets 4
    Principles 8
    National Security 8
    Accomplishments 4
    American Exceptionalism 4
    Political Skills 4
    Consistency 7
    Communication 7
    Ethics 9

    All candidates were awarded between 1 and 10 points in each area, except for Free Markets where between 1 and 20 points could be awarded.