The Atlantic has a fascinating piece on all of the major 2012 presidential contenders’ high school years. It’s funny seeing how–in some cases–the candidate’s look like they haven’t changed a bit, and how–in other cases–they’re barely recognizable.
Let’s make it a contest for you readers here. I’ll number these pictures. Without looking at the article first, respond in the comments section and see if you can match the number with the correct candidate name. Have fun!
(P.S. Just to make things interesting, I did a little research of my own, and found the yearbook photos of 3 other Republican candidates who were overlooked by this article. Extra points if you can figure out who they are. Hint: One of these extra 3 is announced, but is not receiving any attention. One is undecided, but is receiving lots of attention. And one is still undecided, but is not receiving any attention.)
| #1.
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#2.
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| #3.
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#4.
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| #5.
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#6.
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| #7.
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#8.
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| #9.
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#10.
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| #11.
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#12.
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| #13.
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#14.
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Here’s the answer key. Don’t look at it until you’ve guessed! 
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May 29th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Some are pretty straight forward – like #6 (Palin), #10 (Cain), & #11 (Bachmann). Some other guesses: 4 – Pawlenty; 5 – Johnson; 7 – Romney; 13 – Giuliani?
May 29th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
The only one I got wrong was Herman Cain.
May 29th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
I looked at the article so I won’t spoil it, but #13 (which wasn’t in the article) has to be Rudy Giuliani. #12 looks like Buddy Roemer, and #14 is… I don’t have a clue.
May 29th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
That picture alone should disqualify Jon Huntsman from ever being president.
May 29th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Even as a teenager, Ron Paul didn’t look too happy, even though he ran track with Liberman and McCain.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
13 does look like Rudy, and 14 is John Ashcroft?
May 29th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
1 Huntsmans
2 Satoruman
3.Perry
4.T-Paw
5.Johnson or Thad?
6.Palin
7.Romney
8.Newt
9.Paul
10.Cain
11. Bachman
12.Johnson?
13. Rudy
14. Ashcoft (
May 29th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Only real surprises were Paul (to whom, apparently, age has not been kind), and Santorum (who appears to be the victim of the decade in which the picture was taken).
hawthr – your guess was as good as mine, being I picked Tommy Thompson for #14
May 29th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Ahhhhh 11. Michelle Bachmann! What a nerd! Cute though. Sarah Palin looked a little chubby.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Jon Huntsman looked like a gay, who’s 9?
May 29th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
“Jon Huntsman looked like a gay, who’s 9?”
That is actually Ron Paul…who was apparently a jock in high school.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Here’s the answer key. Don’t look at it until you’ve guessed!
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
May 29th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
#11:
Wow, I didn’t expect #14 to be who it was. Go figure.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
OH god. those activites listings have to be a spoof right.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
1. Fred Karger 2. Rick Santorum 3. Jeb Bush 4. Tim Pawlenty 5. Gary Johnson 6. Sarah Palin 7. Mitt Romney 8. Newt Gingrich 9. Ron Paul 10. Herman Cain 11. Michele Bachmann 12. ? 13. Rudy Giuliani 14. John Ashcroft – although this is the first I’ve heard he’s running
May 29th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
The Sandia jersey made it pretty easy to pick out Johnson. Huntsman’s yearbook pic is worse than mine (and mine still makes me cringe).
May 29th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Where’s TPaw???
And who is 12?
May 29th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
OH come on Tpaw is like the eaisest one……12 is a southern in that has annouce…
May 29th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
#17 Jon,
The answer key is in comment 12.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
1. Huntsman (He had that smirk as a kid?)
2. Santorum
3. ???
4. Pawlenty
5. Johnson
6. Palin by default? Sure doesn’t look like her. Bristol not the first to go under the knife??
7. Mitt
8. ??? (Bad picture…)
9. Ron Paul?
10. Cain (Tough one LOL)
11. Bachmann
12. ???
13. Rudy
14. ???
May 29th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
1. Huntsman
7. Romney
5. Johnson
6. Palin
11. Bachmann
18. Gingrich
10. Cain
14. Santorum
Balance ?
May 29th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
#10 Mitt Romney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGMi7a53jA&feature=related
What do I win?
May 30th, 2011 at 12:21 am
Can sure see Rand Pauls resemblence to his dad when Ron was young.
Wow, Rudy sure lost a great head of hair!
Have to say Santorum and Huntsman got better looking with age and Romney, Palin, and Bachmann get the prize for aging with grace.
Overall, pretty good looking bunch in their early years.
May 30th, 2011 at 12:25 am
This is great stuff. Lot’s of fun.
May 30th, 2011 at 1:01 am
#14 is George Pataki? He sure looks like John Ashcroft..Maybe Pataki and Ashcroft were college dopplegangers?
May 30th, 2011 at 1:51 am
My guesses (except I’ve already seen the answers to #13 and 14):
(1) Huntsman
(2) Santorum
(3) Karger
(4) Pawlenty
(5) Johnson
(6) Palin
(7) Romney
(8) Gingrich
(9) No idea
(10) Cain
(11) Bachmann
(12) Paul
(13) I probably could’ve guessed this one, but gave up too quickly
(14) Had no idea, never would’ve thought of Pataki
May 30th, 2011 at 1:57 am
Ha! I guessed Karger correctly, but I first looked up a modern-day picture of him (on Wikipedia).
May 30th, 2011 at 9:56 am
#14 is NOT Pataki. It looks more like Orrin Hatch, but I’m not sure who it is.
May 30th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
I figured it out, #14 is JOHN ASHCROFT
May 30th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
#1 UGLY
#2 BARF
#3 DORKY
#4 PLAIN
#5 SO GAY
#6 CUTE
#7 PREPPY
#8 NERDY
#9 JOCK
#10 HANDSOME
#11 CUTE
#12 LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
#13 NICE ITALIAN BOY!
#14 UGLY
May 30th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
They all look pretty nerdy. Except Guilani. Huntsman looks like a smart alec. Santorum looks totally the same. I can’t decide which of the young ones is even Paul. Mitt was the unattainable hunk, his hair is better now. Bachman looks like those girls you were nice to, but hoped they wouldn’t invite you to their birthday. I bet she decorated for dances. Palin’s pic is too air brushed to recognize. Pawlenty looks like a mediocre jock on game day.
May 30th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
The one in the center of the picture, obviously.
The one that looks exactly like Rand.
May 30th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Hard to do because I don’t know who is included and who isn’t.
1. Christie
2. Santorum
3. Barbour
4. Pawlenty
5. Huntsman
6. Palin
7. Romney
8. Gingrich
9. Paul
10. Cain
11. Bauchmann
12. Roemer
13. Guiliani
14. Kaisch (not running but my guess)
May 30th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Fun post Josiah. I didn’t do well at all. Pawlenty was probably the most obvious (other than Cain). Paul and Gingrich I would not have gotten in a million years.