Six months after its worst defeat in a Presidential Election since 1996, Republican’s battle for party leadership, modernization

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a three part series about the future of the Republican Party.

Dismantled and desperate after young voters handed Democrat Barack Obama a mandate for change, multiple factions of the Republican Party are clawing for leadership of the nation’s oldest political party.

But it is more than a fight for immediate power.

The party’s crushing defeat in 2008 marked the end of Reagan politics, and opened the door for a dynamic ideology shift within the GOP. While libertarian and moderate factions fight to grab control, the Christian Right and the party’s remaining incumbents refuse to let go of the party they’ve steered for the past 25 years.

Old leaders with new messages

Despite being the lower half of the disastrous 2008 presidential ticket, Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin has refused to leave the limelight.

Sarah Palin

While her most recent headlines center on an ill-advised David Letterman joke about her daughters, Palin is engaging in a well-publicized fight for GOP leadership.

Last night she attended the GOP annual joint Senate and House fundraiser, the biggest Republican congressional event of the year. And while her attendance alone signifies VIP status within Republican circles, Palin’s role at the event was diminished compared to the initial plans.

Then the presidential candidate, Palin was asked to give the fundraiser’s the keynote address last Spring, however, after scheduling confusion on the part of both Palin and the committee, she was replaced by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Though she gracefully accepted the demotion, the perceived rivalry between Palin and Gingrich could be a preview of a highly contested presidential primary in 2012.

Gingrich assent back to the helm of the GOP is rather remarkable. It is, in fact, a political resurrection.

Newt Gingrich

Ten years ago Gingrich resigned as speaker of the House, his reputation tarnished with a cloud of corruption. His once-promising political career seemingly dead, he was reduced to authoring numerous political books and television commentary.

Gingrich wasn’t forced out by Democrats, rather, was reprimanded by fellow House Republicans amidst multiple divorce scandals and for accepting an advanced book deal from Rupert Murdoch while the media tycoon had pending House bills.

However, these sins maybe forgiven, or at least forgotten, by youth voters too young to remember Gringrich’s downfall.

Fresh faces in the fight

Another variable in the fight for GOP leadership is where the libertarian movement among young Republicans will throw its support.

Mobilized by the 2008 candidacy of Texas Congressman and former Libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul, many young Republicans have fought for a GOP focused on state’s rights, civil liberties and a balanced budget.

Unfortunately for members of the “Ron Paul Revolution,” the congressman will be 76-years-old by the time the next presidential election rolls around, making him a very unlikely candidate.

Though some have lobbied for Paul’s son Rand to run, the fact that he has never held public office would make him an awfully hard sell, especially given the fact that his father –a 20 year congressmen –could only muster a handful of third place finishes in primaries last year.

Two weeks ago the Republican Liberty Caucus passed a resolution asking South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to campaign for the Republican nomination in 2012, yet this week’s confession to a secret Argentinian love affair, Sanford’s chances at the White House are slim to none.

Mark Sanford

Founded in 1991, the RLC works to promote a platform centered on individual rights, limited government, and free enterprise, ideals that align with Paul’s 2008 rhetoric.

Sanford made headlines earlier this year when he rejected federal stimulus money earmarked for South Carolina, and his stances on medical marijuana and pork barrel projects make him a favorite among young Republicans.

Prior to running for re-election in 2006, Sanford declared that it would be his final political race, however he has never explicitly ruled out a presidential run.

While his words may not have taken him out of the 2012 race, his actions may have. After disappearing for a week, Sanford confessed yesterday to a year-long extramarital affair. Though young voters may be more inclined to forgive the governor, one poll saw a dip in his approval ratings and cited 50 percent of South Carolina residents wanted him to resign.

Fellow governor and emerging GOP leader Bobby Jindal is positioned to grab the Republican Party reigns in 2012, if not sooner.

Elected to govern Lousiana at age 36, Jindal was heavily speculated as a front runner for the vice president spot on the 2008 ticket, and spoke at last year’s Republican National Convention.

Bobby Jindal

Despite his age and relatively recent appearance on the national political scene, Jindal may have a hard time convincing young voters his stances differ from those of former-President George W. Bush.

Jindal opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships, and, according to the National Right to Life Committee, has a 100 percent pro-life voting record.

A third governor, Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty, may throw his hat in the competition for GOP leadership. He has not only announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2010, but Pawlenty has also begun a nation-wide speaking tour possibly in order to gauge national support.

Popular in Minnesota, it remains unseen whether Pawlenty has the name recognition of fundraising prowess necessary for a 50-state, two-year presidential campaign. Similarly to Jindal, he is considered a staunch social conservative, a reputation he’d have to run from if he hopes to woo young voters.

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