At least 15 Republicans already eyeing 2016
Rubio and Ryan, both arguably better positioned than Jindal, are also competing for the mantle of the high-energy, forward-thinking conservative. POLITICO has learned both will unveil new policy plans at an awards dinner of the Jack Kemp Foundation in early December: Ryan will begin a new push on a more modern approach to alleviating poverty, focused on education; Rubio will lift the curtain on an economic empowerment message, heavy on college affordability and workforce training.
That upcoming duet is one of the clearest signs that this presidential race is beginning as early as any in history.
Not to be outdone, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and heir to his father’s libertarian following, is now on the record exploring a run that will focus heavily on returning power to the states. In a post-election interview with POLITICO, Paul said he wants to find common ground with liberal Democrats on softer marijuana laws and help create an eventual pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants…
POLITICO has also learned that Rick Santorum is telling friends he wants to run again. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has said publicly that he might, too, and has begun talking to donors and other top supporters like he means it. And Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor with strong credentials on education and winning back Hispanics, has told advisers he will sit back to see how things unfold over the next year before deciding whether to finally give it a go.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 3 4 Next »
Ooo – let me dive right into this article – after my yawning subsides
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Yeah, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m
up for the never ending CAMPAIGN!!!
Idiots, all of them.
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 10:10 AM
So that is at least 15 Republicans who won’t be doing their current jobs for the next four years.
Night Owl on November 21, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Can’t start too soon!
I think having umpteen Republicans in umpteen debates is anything but helpful.
Can’t we arrange some sort of playoff system, or brackets?
Akzed on November 21, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Can you imagine a debate between Rubio, Jindal and Ryan?
Epic
dforston on November 21, 2012 at 10:12 AM
I’m honestly fine with most of these. Can we not get Bush and Santorum to sit it out though? Sigh…
Tacitus on November 21, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Jeb Bush and Santorum?
Yeah, ok.
Dave 2016
Bishop on November 21, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Joe Biden will need to be sedated first.
forest on November 21, 2012 at 10:14 AM
I like everybody mentioned except Bush.
gophergirl on November 21, 2012 at 10:14 AM
And Santorum – don’t like him either
gophergirl on November 21, 2012 at 10:15 AM
They think if they don’t mention her, she will go away.
Palin – 2016
huckleberryfriend on November 21, 2012 at 10:15 AM
at least we have a better field.
nathor on November 21, 2012 at 10:16 AM
“Senator Paul, have you ever told your children that Santa Clause is real?”
“Governor Perry, do you believe Noah really built a large ship to carry two of every animal?”
“Senator Rubio, do you think pretending to drink someone’s blood and eat his body every Sunday might turn of more sensible voters?”
Dongemaharu on November 21, 2012 at 10:16 AM
What, no Huckabee? How sad. With his ‘Akin logic’, throwing him into the mix would make it more fun.
tommy71 on November 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Ron to Rand: Son, I’m bored of all this but I have a couple million Ronulans and a thriving hate tract business if you want to take a run?
CorporatePiggy on November 21, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Elmo creator, 2016!!!
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Santorum hurts his own cause. At least Phuckabee looks somewhat likable if you dont know anything about politics.
Valkyriepundit on November 21, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Ok – I will play along
Forget the House and Senate Members – they offer nothing
Rubio – no executive experience
Ryan – no executive experience
Rand Paul – no executive experience
Santorum – no executive experience
Rick Perry – executive experience – but can he stay awake
Jeb Bush – no more Bush members please – with respect to a great family
My Picks:
Mitch Daniels
Bobby Jindal
John Kasich
Bob McConnell
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:22 AM
ryan would out-rino them all.
renalin on November 21, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Since we Catholics believe that we’re not pretending, but actually doing it, you could even make that more of a gotcha question than the way you phrased it. “Senator Rubio, why does your religion endorse cannibalism?” Don’t laugh, I had a sociology professor approach it that way.
Regarding the article, all I have to say is — please, no more candidates named “Bush.” The name has been tarnished too badly and even if it hadn’t, having three presidents in such a short span of time all from the same family smacks of the kind of dynasty thinking our republic was designed to avoid.
Shump on November 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Can’t wait to sit back and laugh at the Hispanderfest that is about to commence.
Kataklysmic on November 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Please, no retreads (yes, Bush counts because of his last name). Time for some fresh faces, a new generation.
changer1701 on November 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
2016 is soooooo yesterday.
BELLA SANTORUM, 2024!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Can’t we at least wait until after 2014 before we talk about 2016?
topdawg on November 21, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Si
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:26 AM
YES YES YES
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Except for Santorum, I like most of those guys. One thing I’ve learned though is that I have no say in this. My vote doesn’t count, and my money has no effect. I will never again become involved in a presidential primary. I might express my opinion here, but I wont donate ever again.
juliesa on November 21, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Mike Pence 2016!
Valkyriepundit on November 21, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Understandable feeling this soon after the election – but keep an open mind – you NEVER know who will come along to reignite your passion – and you NEVER know what the world will look like in 4 years.
Hang tough – I suspect you are like me – and you can barely stand to watch or read the news – since November 6th.
This is a brutal time.
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM
We need to start looking at 2014, folks. Let’s not screw up the senate races again.
juliesa on November 21, 2012 at 10:31 AM
You’re back into the game – that was quick!
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:31 AM
I don’t have a problem with Bush or Santorum, per se, except that their time has probably come and gone. Same with Perry…his best shot was this go ’round (he was my first choice, actually).
Of course, the problem with some of the other names is the lack of executive experience. We know voters don’t really care about that, apparently, but I think it’s important. As such, I’m going with the Jindal/Rubio ticket
changer1701 on November 21, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Gonna go for Ron Johnson of WI, executive experience, serious, speaks conservative, tea party inspired. He could pick Martinez of NM as a running mate and play the race card with a full deck.
kringeesmom on November 21, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Strong
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Well, if you do you’d better make sure it adheres as closely as possible to the GOPe line. It looks as if Rubio is going to be Salem /Townhall’s horse, so you’d better start talking him up around here.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Rubio – nice man
Executive experience amounts to leading his Senate office of what – 12 people?
Jeepers!
jake-the-goose on November 21, 2012 at 10:37 AM
I wonder which of these candidates will have the most inclusive outreach plan for young single females who are concerned about paying for contraception? We need to make sure this important demographic feels warm and fuzzy about Republicans.
Kataklysmic on November 21, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Apparently it is just not possible for politicans to get their butts kicked so badly that they’ll slink off into the sunset. From here on out elections will be circus-like affairs between the fools and the wicked.
MelonCollie on November 21, 2012 at 10:38 AM
The ink isn’t dry on 2012, Obama hasn’t sworn in for his second term, and they’re jockeying for 2016? Don’t they understand the general public doesn’t give a rat’s rear on this garbage? And we think Obama is the only narcissist?
Since we’re playing, no executive experience should disqualify any candidate. Yeah, I know. That didn’t matter with Obama/Biden. *gag*
We need to keep an eye on Gov. Martinez in NM.
conservative pilgrim on November 21, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Unless they confront the media as hard as the media will confront them, it really doesn’t matter who runs.
They will lose. You can’t be buddy-buddy Mike Dukakis style with the a media trying to knee-cap you every day.
And most voters don’t care about lack of executive experience. They care about lack of celebrity experience.
Moesart on November 21, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I have a soft spot for Perry
I will wait to see how it all shakes out. I’m definitely not putting a stake in the ground 3+ years before the nominee is decided that’s for sure.
gophergirl on November 21, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Very good list..But it is too early..We have aot of other things to fix and shore up in the GOP..
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 10:40 AM
LOVE her!
gophergirl on November 21, 2012 at 10:40 AM
I agree with that..:)
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Well said.
Kataklysmic on November 21, 2012 at 10:41 AM
He was my pick for 2012, but alas… He’ll have 4 years as governor on his resume for 2016. Of course with any of these potential candidates, one has to assume that the moocher/freeloader % stays the same as 2012 and that’s not going to happen. I really can’t see an R ever winning the WH again.
TxAnn56 on November 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
No Bushes please. Rubio is the Bush’s stalking horse. The Ryan-Rubio policy off at the Jack Kemp dinner should be epic. Maybe Ryan playing in the conservative ideas sandbox will make Rubio talk about actual ideas rather than important stuff like his favorite rap artists. Jindal is sulking that he didn’t get an invite.
Illinidiva on November 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Apparently it is just not possible for politicans to get their butts kicked so badly that they’ll slink off into the sunset. From here on out elections will be circus-like affairs between the fools and the wicked.
MelonCollie on November 21, 2012 at 10:38 AM
And this fellow Hot Airians, is the diamond in
the rough.
BRILLIANT POST.
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Really? Truce Daniels? Another candidate pulling a Dukakis, just standing there and trying to look competent while the Democrats punch him on every known culture-war issue? Great idea!
Valkyriepundit on November 21, 2012 at 10:44 AM
It is going to be tough any way you cut it..That is why we (GOP) need to improve the ways we get our message out..:)
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 4 Next »