Commitment to Limited Constitutional Government

Free Market Economic Principles (0-10)

• Does the leader champion opportunity and fairness for all in the marketplace?
• Has the leader demonstrated a clear understanding of free market policies?
• Does the formal record show that the leader supports lower taxes, free trade, less government regulation, privatization and balanced budgets?
• Has the leader compromised free market principles when pressured by business or special interests?
• Has the leader publicly expressed opposition to corporate welfare and cronyism?
• Does the leader’s life embody “earned success” over entitlements?

A Strong National Security (0-10)

• Has the leader demonstrated support for the U.S. military?
• Is the leader committed to fighting terrorism and upholding national sovereignty?
• Does the leader understand and advance the national interest or does the leader speak more often about isolation and “disengagement”?

American Exceptionalism (0-10)

• Does the leader demonstrate a clear understanding of the rule of law and the Bill of Rights and embrace the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution?
• Has the leader supported/defended/appointed judges who protect the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution?
• Does the leader endorse family as the fundamental unit of a free society?
• Has the leader demonstrated support for religious freedom?
• Does the leader support a strong education system?
• Does the leader support intelligent immigration reform?
• Has the leader endorsed helping the vulnerable and protecting a trustworthy safety net for the poor and needy?

Character

Consistency (0-10)

• Does the leader demonstrate a consistent principled approach toward governing?
• Has the leader kept campaign promises?
• Has the leader remained principled even in necessary compromise?

Ethics (0-10)

• Is the leader’s integrity in question?
• Has the leader avoided cronyism?
• Has the leader instituted rules for the campaign team/staff/organization to minimize conflicts of interest?

Moral Compass (0-10)

• Is it well known that the leader expresses and lives by a moral code?
• Does the leader express legal and policy ideas from a basis of first principles?

Effectiveness

Accomplishments and Bold Ideas (0-10)

• Does the leader have actual political experience?
• Has the leader effectively promoted and/or defended limited government?
• Has the leader effectively expressed and/or implemented innovative ideas in the cause of freedom?
• Does the leader quickly understand and easily embrace principled ideas?

Coalition Building, Political Skills and Network (0-10)

• Has the leader demonstrated prudence in decision making?
• Does outreach and working with diverse political interests come easy for the leader?
• How has the leader acted in difficult political circumstances?
• Who are the leader’s friends, associates, staff and closest advisers?

Effective Communication (0-10)

• Does the leader share a clear vision of a free society?
• Does the leader emanate empathy?
• Does the leader see “people as people” or does the leader tend to objectify people?
• Can the leader express complex ideas simply?
• Does the leader excite and inspire citizens?

Viability

Fundraising (0-5)

• Where does the leader stand in fundraising?

Central weakness/ability to overcome (0-5)

• What is the leader’s central weakness as a candidate?
• Has the leader demonstrated ability and interest in overcoming this central weakness?