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For the past four years, the Grand Old Party has been plotting and politicking to see if it will regain the White House from President Barack Obama and the Democrats.

With the battle underway and less than 10 months to go until these political heavyweights square off, here is what you need to know for “Super Tuesday”.

The race to be the Republican challenger has seen prospects come and go and has left only four men standing heading into the 9th round, which takes place in Michigan and Arizona Feb. 28.

What you need to know: The Challengers

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has been the odds-on favorite since the race’s inception. Massive super PAC spending and a strong political pedigree have helped him dismiss the likes of Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman like sparring partners for Muhammad Ali in the ’60s.

Rick Santorum, the most socially conservative man left in the race, has recently risen in not only national polls, but the Republican delegate count as well. Santorum, however, has come under fire recently for his stance on contraceptives and his proclamation that sexual relations have no purpose beyond procreation.

Newt Gingrich, the GOP’s most accomplished politician came on strong as the fight ventured through the south, but has been searching for a second wind ever since taking some heavy shots in Colorado and Maine.

Ron Paul, the long-tenured Congressman from Texas, has fought his party’s establishment mentality and made him popular among independent and constitutionalist voters. Paul, although low on the delegate totem pole, vows to carry his fight all the way to the GOP convention in September no matter the odds.

Highly contentious issues are nothing new to presidential campaigns, but this race has seen radical shifts in everything from budgetary to foreign policy issues and everything
in between.

All GOP candidates have said they will make it a priority to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as “Obamacare”, but for different reasons.

Similarly, each of the challengers claim they will cut government spending, but unlike his opponents, Paul says he will bring the military back home and get rid of the Department of Education to implement budgetary cuts.

The other three all claim they will cut spending, but will do so mostly through reform to government programs and further tax cuts to stimulate job growth.

What you need to know: The Champ

The incumbent, Obama, stands at the intersection of neither hope nor change — despite his campaign message of four years ago.

Unemployment still hovers above 8 percent, Guantanamo Bay’s detention facility remains open, and the military is still engaged in operations throughout Afghanistan.

Still, the defending champion of the electoral college’s quadrennial title fight sits atop polls when pitted against a “generic GOP candidate” by as much as three points depending on who you listen to.

The fight for the Oval Office will be, as Cincinnati Reds radio announcer Marty Brenneman says, “a titanic struggle” despite whatever the pundits tell you.

Who will face off in November

Many pundits think that Romney will probably take some body shots, but will prevail when the GOP Convention heads to Tampa, Fla. in September.

Here’s how I see it.

Romney is an establishment guy who has paid his dues and done pretty well for himself despite taking on all comers. In the end, the amount spent on his behalf by super PACs combined with his ability to stay moderate enough to avoid alienating the majority of voters will carry him into the ring against Obama.

Once he gets the nomination, it’s truly either man’s fight to win. Obama can pack a hefty punch if he is able to reinvigorate a base that carried him to easy victory against John McCain in his first presidential candidacy. If Romney can energize the conservative right, it will be interesting to see who takes the crown in November.

Either way, it’s going to get bloody before the dust settles.
Ohio’s presidential primary takes place March 6, but if you haven’t yet registered, it’s too late to vote.

The general election takes place Nov. 6 to decide the next president. The registration deadline to vote is Oct. 6, and on Super Tuesday, the polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
If you are an out-of-state student, you will need to either travel home to vote in the general election or register for an absentee ballot. Student identification cards will not be accepted in Ohio for this election.