Where the GOP hopfuls stand on the issues

A look at where the 2012 Republican presidential candidates stand on a selection of key issues in Florida and nationwide.They are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen.

ABORTION

Gingrich Platform calls for conservative judges and no subsidies for abortion but not a constitutional abortion ban.

Paul Says federal government should have no authority either to legalize or ban abortion.

Romney Says Roe v. Wade should be reversed by a future Supreme Court and states should decide their own abortion laws.

Santorum Favors constitutional abortion ban and opposes abortion even in cases of rape.

CUBA

Gingrich On a recent trip to Miami, he signed a letter vowing to pursue a strong policy against Cuba by not lifting sanction until all political prisoners are free and re-establishing the 2004 stricter Bush travel rules.

Paul Only Republican to call for end to embargo against Cuba. "If we wouldn’t have had this embargo for 40 years, (Fidel) Castro would have been gone a long time ago," he told reporters in Tallahassee last April.

Romney Supports embargo. Labeled Cuba “a rogue nation” along with Iran, North Korea and Venezuela in foreign policy statement by campaign.

Santorum Supports the pro-democracy movement on the communist island.

DEBT

Gingrich As House speaker in 1990s, engineered passage of a seven-year balanced-budget plan. It was vetoed but helped form a bipartisan balanced budget later.

Paul Would eviscerate federal government, slashing nearly half its spending, shut five Cabinet-level agencies, end spending on existing conflicts and on foreign aid.

Romney Defended financial sector bailout, criticized GM and Chrysler bailout. Cap federal spending at 20 percent of GDP.

Santorum Freeze social and military spending for five years to cut $5 trillion from federal budgets.

ECONOMY

Gingrich Repeal the financial industry regulations that followed the Wall Street meltdown. Restrict the Fed’s power to set interest rates artificially low.

Paul Return to the gold standard, eliminate the Federal Reserve, eliminate most federal regulations.

Romney Lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth. Replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts. Repeal new financial-industry regulations.

Santorum Eliminate corporate taxes for manufacturers, drill for more oil and gas, and slash regulations.

EDUCATION

Gingrich Shrink Education Department. But supported Obama administration’s $4 billion Race to the Top grant competition for states.

Paul Abolish the Education Department and end the federal role in education.

Romney Supported No Child Left Behind law. Once favored shutting Education Department, later saw its value in "holding down the interests of the teachers’ unions."

Santorum Voted for No Child Left Behind law, now regrets vote. Wants "significantly" smaller Education Department but not its elimination.

ENERGY

Gingrich Let oil and natural gas industries drill offshore reserves now blocked from development, end restrictions on Western oil shale development.

Paul Remove restrictions on drilling, coal and nuclear power, eliminate gasoline tax, provide tax credits for alternative fuel technology.

Romney Supports drilling in the Gulf, the outer continental shelves, Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and exploitation of shale oil deposits.

Santorum Favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, scaling back "oppressive regulation" hindering drilling elsewhere, and eliminating energy subsidies in four years.

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