Chris Christie

Who: Governor of New Jersey

Known for: Cutting spending, fighting against unions and corruption, fighting for fiscal responsibility.

Just one problem: He has strong credentials on fiscal conservatism and is likely strong on defense, but some many think him not conservative enough on some domestic issues, for example: His one time support for the assault weapons ban. (Though Bush supported the ban at one time, too, and then moved further to the right on guns.)

Paul Ryan

Who: Congressman from Wisconsin.

Known for: Putting forth solid, intelligent conservative counter-proposals to liberal legislation in the House. For example, Ryan actually has a solid plan to manage the major entitlement programs.

Just one problem: If he has any presidential aspirations, he’s doing one hell of a job hiding them. In fact, he’s been pushing his own candidates for the job as of late.

Marco Rubio

Who: Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representative, current candidate for United States Senate.

Known for: Being a young, charismatic conservative who hits the right notes on the right issues.

Just one problem: He has yet to be elected to federal office of any sort. He can make an argument for qualification if he’s elected in 2010. But he has to get elected first.

Sarah Palin

Who: Former governor of Alaska, 2008 vice presidential candidate, Queen Mama Grizzly.

Known for: Cutting through corruption in the Alaska political establishment, rallying conservative activists, and inspiring female candidates to run in 2010.

Just one problem: The perception. The fact she didn’t even complete her first term in office is the least of her PR problems. Thanks to a continued media narrative, she is perceived by many to be an unqualified dunce. That may not be fair, but perception is everything in politics — especially when you’re running for the highest office in the land. The fact that she continues to make silly mistakes doesn’t help, either.

Bob McDonnell

Who: The governor of Virginia.

Known for: Turning a major budget deficit into a significant surplus, talking up the free market.

Just one problem: The Confederate incident was idiotic but hurtful nevertheless. Especially considering the fact he would be running against the first black president as a white, southern Republican.

Colonel Allen West

Who: Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army; military historian; Republican nominee for Congress in FL-22.

Known for: Being the most prominent black conservative running in 2010, defending the Tea Party movement, effectively communicating his policy positions, and performing well in a typically-Democratic district.

Just one problem: No one will accuse Colonel West of being unqualified or uneducated. But he does have the same problem Marco Rubio has: As of yet, he’s never been elected to any major office. That can be rectified in November.