By Bryan Morales

With campaign ads all around us, do college students know who’s running for the Republican Party and who has dropped out the race?

So far, five republican candidates have dropped out, leaving six candidates in the race. It seems as if only four of them matter with the spotlight they have been receiving.

Newt Gringrich and Mitt Romney have been pointing fingers at each other in interviews and campaign ads.

The other two Republican rivals are Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, who are getting less airtime.

Every election campaign seems to have something in common. Unless politics is your major or attracts your interest, most people don’t seem to acknowledge candidates in the run for presidency. This month will show us who is worthy and who has no chance in being elected.

Americans should want to know who is running for election because of our opportunity to vote in this country.

Candidates have their reason and goals for running. They will say anything to get elected, but voters should follow each candidate closely and do a little research on the candidates and get a better feeling for them.

With the job market being as it is, some feel it doesn’t matter who gets elected because no one person can change that. But who is saying what?

Rick Santorum wants to cut $5 billion of federal spending within five years. He would do so by cutting spending on defense and on social programs. Mitt Romney wants to repeal every Obama-era regulation, for example ‘Obamacare.’ Romney wants to open up new markets for American goods.

Newt Gringrich wants to convert America into an energy saving country by becoming less dependent on oil and using more natural resources. He also wants to eliminate the Obamacare and begin his own healthcare plan called “Patient Power” that will save money and be more affordable. Gringrich wants to improve education by giving parents the opportunity to choose their child’s school and future. He is also willing to work with a new immigration system that will let immigrants stay here through a program.

If Ron Paul becomes president, his goals are to cut $1 trillion in spending, lowering corporate taxes to 15 percent giving America the ability to compete in the global market and, like the rest of the Republican party, erase Obamacare.

We might not know what president will make the best decisions, but if you pay attention to what the candidates are saying you can help make an informed choice this coming fall that could help shape this country.