My original choice was Santorum, because he was the only national candidate who supported a reduction in LEGAL immigration, which, in my opinion, is an existential political threat to American Conservatives.
If Cruz is nominated, I will vote for Cruz, because I do believe he is a Conservative on every other issue I care about.
I also feel that Rubio is a genuine Conservative on most issues, but his Gang of Eight Amnesty betrayal was so shocking and so flagrant I do not think I can vote for him.
I have very pleasant memories of a “Conservative” John Kasich during the 1994 “Gingrich Revolution.” But, Kasich, like Gingrich, has been moving steadily Left for the last 20 years. I would need to study Kasich’s record as Ohio governor, and also study his record during his last few terms in Congress, before I make a decision about voting for him.
Except for immigration, I would be willing to accept Jeb Bush as my “painful compromise” candidate, even though he is center-left on just about everything. But his immigration policy is so deranged and so destructive, I don't think I could vote for him in the general election.
We are at the point where the US has to consider cultural preservation to be a priority, and the importation of enclaves of foreign people who are not assimilating into our culture is a problem.
Without that assimilation, we will be beset by expensive and tedious special interests consuming resources to remain foreign communities within our borders.
I don't mind people retaining a healthy sense of their roots and most cultural aspects of that, however, the aspects which go against our way of life (our Constitutional Republic, language, and other unifying factors) cannot be permitted to gain serious sway.
Past assimilated immigrant populations have contributed to the American culture, not replaced it.
Controlling our borders should be the focus of national security assets at home and that needs to be done.
Those who are here in violation of our laws need to be sent home.
We don't have enough jobs for Americans now, and that is going to kill us economically.
We don't need to add to our labor force unless we are discussing additions of exceptional skill.
One of the chief reasons manufacturing is diminished is an overzealous EPA, and that agency should be reined in or eliminated. Other agencies and rules can and should be either downsized or eliminated, (including obamacare) and regulations and tax code simplified to foster industrial development at home. The divestment of land or leasing of resources by the Federal Government should increase. Continuing to take land off tax rolls and place it off limits is not sustainable.
Many resources have a use by date--trees age and die, for instance, and the harvesting and use of those resources keeps them viable.
Other resources will be needed to feed manufacturing or power it.
Let the States make the rules for their individual environmental needs.
I am a social and fiscal conservative, believe we need to be militarily strong as a deterrent/defense, and also believe we need to quit using our military to effect social change elsewhere.
I do not believe the military is a place for social experimentation. It has to work, first time, every time, or Americans will die unnecessarily. Stick with what worked, but keep our people and their weapons cutting edge.
Social programs have become the great teat, but even worse, are so heavily involved in picking winners (and losers) that the government needs to back off. You have to climb to need a safety net, and too many are still seated on the ground.
Trillions have been poured down that rathole, and we only have more of the same problem.
We should push the boundaries of known space, and especially encourage private ventures to do so.
While we can protect Americans and American interests, using our military to impose freedom on others is not an effective nor intelligent use of that resource.
While I want candidates aligned with those and other beliefs I hold dear, including stopping the slaughter of the unborn and the end of Federal impositions of standards for the sacrament of marriage, I also want a candidate with the moral courage to do what is right over what is politically expedient. I want someone I can believe will stand by the standards above, and who will leave my RKBA alone or enhance my ability to practice that right, not seek additional infringements.
Credibly, I can only think of one candidate, and even then I am not certain. I lean toward Cruz.