Which 2012 Republican Presidential candidate is Donald Trump most like?

[Medal506]

Select one of the 13 candidates who Donald Trump is most similar to

[The Self]

Santorum without the personal religiosity. They shared a similar base.

[Phony Moderate]

Even though their bases were quite different (though perhaps less so than many believe), Romney.

- Both as rich as f**k.
- Both have a history of social liberalism.
- Both have taken tough stances on immigration and China.
- Both possibly wear wigs.
- Both Northeastern.
- Both were up against a weak field.
- Both established themselves as frontrunners early, with the race becoming defined as "them vs. the rest".
- Both were briefly threatened by a token African-American Republican.
- Both narrowly lost Iowa in a three-way split but won big in New Hampshire.
- Both of their final serious challengers were religious nutcases.

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

Even though their bases were quite different (though perhaps less so than many believe), Romney.

- Both as rich as f**k.
- Both have a history of social liberalism.
- Both have taken tough stances on immigration and China.
- Both possibly wear wigs.
- Both Northeastern.
- Both were up against a weak field.
- Both established themselves as frontrunners early, with the race becoming defined as "them vs. the rest".
- Both were briefly threatened by a token African-American Republican.
- Both narrowly lost Iowa in a three-way split but won big in New Hampshire.
- Both of their final serious challengers were religious nutcases.

The biggest similarity is that they both argued their business experience made them qualified to be president...an argument that appeals to many Republican primary voters. Romney only
had the one term as a governor, which he never mentioned on the campaign trail unless someone attacked it. I bet there's more Romney '12/Trump '16 PRIMARY voters than people think.

Ultimately though, I think the choice is Cain.

[Santander]

Herman Cain, with less brain and more fame.

Electrify the fence!

[Kingpoleon]

1. Roemer
2. Paul
3. Cain
4. Gingrich
5. Huntsman

[mencken]

Herman Cain is the obvious answer - the only 2012 candidate who comes close to embodying Trump's combination of outsider appeal, emphasis on cultural divides, and simplistic politics - to the point that Trump's success makes it worth contemplating how close Cain might have come to defeating Romney if he had not dropped out of the race before the primaries began. At the time I dismissed him as an implausible nominee. Now I am not so sure.

I agree with most of this, but did Cain have the distinct appeal to blue-collar Whites that was key to Trump's success in the primary and general?