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
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Tell us in 100 words or less why Martinez should be the nominee.
Ryan’s uncharismatic damaged goods.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Ding.. Ding. We have a winner on the losers. Bachmann seriously? Santorum is apparently delusional and thinks he is actually electable.
Illinidiva on November 21, 2012 at 10:47 AM
By the way, one thing I’m just waaaaaaiiiiiiting to hear again: “People are tired of rock star politicians!!! People want boring competence, not American Idol!!!! Charisma is overrated!!!”
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 10:47 AM
I’ve always liked Perry, and thought he got a raw deal over that whole HPV vaccine kerfuffle.
But yeah…I won’t exactly be printing up bumper stickers at this point either. I do like Jindal though.
changer1701 on November 21, 2012 at 10:48 AM
This is a good list..Mike Pence..Marco Rubio..
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I like the Jindal, Pence, McDonnell and Walker. No to amnesty-supporting Rubio, Paul and Perry. The idea of Santorum running again is just a sick joke, so I won’t even comment on that. Paul Ryan could also be an interesting choice, but let’s see how he performs over the next couple years.
I also like Martinez and Haley, but wonder if maybe they need some more polish first.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Power Rankings 11/21/12
5. John Thune
4. Chris Christie
3. Scott Walker
2. Bobby Jindal
1. Marco Rubio
corujodp on November 21, 2012 at 10:55 AM
I said “keep an eye on her.” I know that I will not vote for another RINO. I’m not falling for the “sky is falling” doomsday election kabuki theater again. Done with that.
Martinez’s convention speech was compelling and she conveys an attitude of “fight.” She’s a young governor, and I prefer her to win a re-election before vying for higher office.
Here is a link to her policy positions.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Susana_Martinez.htm
conservative pilgrim on November 21, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Now the same media that got Obama elected is telling us who our candidates will be in 2016.
God, between the liberal media and the GOP establishment no wonder we always lose.
I bet, right after the 2008 McCain loss, politico was telling us how Romney was the nominee because he offered the best chance of beating satan!
Danielvito on November 21, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Agreed, nice to find another Pence fan. I think he would be the best all around candidate. Scott Walker is a close second.
I think it will be Jeb Bush with Rubio as VP. Jeb has been quietly working towards 2016 for quite some time now and is laying groundwork for a Romney-style campaign. Rubio will be used the same way Ryan and Palin were.
Doomberg on November 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM
ddrintn. Unlike Palin who is totally beloved with a 70% approval rating.
Give it up already on Palin already she’d lose in a landslide. Ryan has plenty on charisma.. It is a n extra nerdy sort of charisma, but it is still charisma. And even if Ryan doesn’t win, as AP said Ryan going full Kemp is an intriguing possibility and it has forced Rubio to talk about issues and stuff.
Illinidiva on November 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM
No, DD. People do not want incompetent, unelectable celebrity types, so that rules out you-know-who. Sorry about that.
We want charisma and competence. We shouldn’t have to settle for someone who, while skilled at the art of winking at the camera, struggles to answer what newspapers they read.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Why? Is she a reformer? I’m not interested in any speeches.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 10:58 AM
I like the Jindal, Pence, McDonnell and Walker. No to amnesty-supporting Rubio, Paul and Perry. The idea of Santorum running again is just a sick joke, so I won’t even comment on that. Paul Ryan could also be an interesting choice, but let’s see how he performs over the next couple years.
I also like Martinez and Haley, but wonder if maybe they need some more polish first.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 10:51 AM
The idea of you offering any opinion absent a
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH ANTI PALIN rant is a sick joke.
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM
@ddrintn–
read the link to see her policy positions. Good grief.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Susana_Martinez.htm
conservative pilgrim on November 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM
So you’ll want to prop up someone with the charisma of a block of Limberger and try to convince everyone else that they’re just dripping with charisma and all REAL conservatives are going to agree!!!
Same as it ever was.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Caught a Ted Cruz speech from 11/16 on CSPAN2 yesterday. He was preaching Reaganism and scolding the GOP establishment for letting some one like Stephanopolous moderate a primary debate. He was awesome. I’d say keep an eye on him for sure.
Mr. Mike on November 21, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Yeah, I can imagine what they are, indistinguishable from Jindal’s or Rubio’s or Paul’s or Marsha Blackburn’s for that matter.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Dick Lugar?
Oil Can on November 21, 2012 at 11:03 AM
After this year’s debacle with Romney, I never again want to hear the “electability” argument.
Shump on November 21, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Hey, I offer lots of opinions on here. I guess for some reason, though, I am best known for my opinions on Sarah Palin’s electability. And, just to clarify, I do not believe that Sarah Palin is electable.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Mike Castle 2016!!!! Solid competence and experience and omigosh you gotta have those indies!!!! And he would flip a lot of blue NE states too!!!!!
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM
AMEN!!!!! Especially when it (predictably) will be coming from those who were telling is that Romney’s electable.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Umm.. if Jeb runs then it will cement my belief that the Bushes are completely delusional and out of touch with reality. I’m assuming that Jeb will end up supporting Rubio. Also, Walker isn’t running if Ryan runs. Walker and Ryan are BFFs; remember Walker crying during Ryan’s speech. And Ryan is. apparently running.. hence Walker isn’t.
Illinidiva on November 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM
We want charisma and competence. We shouldn’t have to settle for someone who, while skilled at the art of winking at the camera, struggles to answer what newspapers they read.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Yeah, I don’t want someone who showed CHARISMA AND
COMPETENCE in spades as GOVERNOR with an 80% approval rating,
and 24,000 emails provided to the ignorant general public
(see gulliblegill) but DAMMIT! SHE DID NOT ANSWER THE NEWSPAPER
QUESTION (because she found it insulting)
She read the WSJ daily as oil and gas commissioner of her state,
along with the NYT, and Wash compost…..
..but you keep throwing Ninja Stars at her Mkay??
ToddPA on November 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM
And the left is already prepared to brand every single one of them as: mean/racist/sexist/stupid/war-monger/too rich.
Right Mover on November 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Picking an electable nominee is a top priority. Your comment seems silly. You can disagree, however, on what would make somebody electable. But to suggest that we should pick someone we know would probably lose and pick them simply out of principle is not very smart.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM
And you thought Romney WAS. LOL
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM
LoLz..Maybe Todd Akin???..
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Yeah, and great job you did last time, too. Whoo boy.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:08 AM
What about Ham Sandwich? I heard it’s electable.
Dongemaharu on November 21, 2012 at 11:09 AM
But the Bushes have proven themselves to be eminently electable, so there’s that.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Akin/Murdock 2016
No more unelectable moderate RINOs.
lester on November 21, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Imagine? So you are unwilling to click the link and read her policy positions, yet you want to gripe about every candidate that fails your litmus test? The candidates you fail to research and read about ? You should be taken as seriously as bluegill on these matters. IOW—not at all.
conservative pilgrim on November 21, 2012 at 11:10 AM
LOL, yeah. Ahhhh, those were the days, huh?
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM
In what universe has Sarah Palin ever proven herself as “incompetent”? I’m not a Palin-bot, and I realize her biggest problem is winning over female conservatives who have a blind spot against her, but nothing she’s done in her career has ever shown her to be incompetent.
Right Mover on November 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM
15 candidates? That ought to split the votes out so thinly that Mitch Daniels will probably be the nominee.
Yipee! Mediocrity!
portlandon on November 21, 2012 at 11:12 AM
No, I asked somply whjy Martinez should be the nominee, and you direct me to a website that will tell me that she’s pretty much like Marsha Blackburn or Bobby Jindal. And then you get angry. Answer my question: why Martinez?
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:12 AM
strawman/false dichotomy 2016
Kataklysmic on November 21, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Chet Hunterson is our best candidate for 2016
corujodp on November 21, 2012 at 11:13 AM
rofl..
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I happen to really like Jeb, but his position on amnesty is a total dealbreaker for me.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Any relation to John Huntsman??!!??..
Dire Straits on November 21, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Geez, guys…that’s a long way off, and I still have election hangover.
Can we figure out what we can do about the MSM first?
lynncgb on November 21, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Well, it could be Brown/Thompson. Electability and indies, baby!!!!
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Yes, we should nominate the electable people that appeal to moderates. Like Dole. And McCain. And Romney. That’s the ticket!!!!!!!
topdawg on November 21, 2012 at 11:18 AM
My point is not that we should pick an unelectable nominee. My point is that we know approximately jack crap about who is actually electable and who isn’t, and this year should tell you that. What the GOP needs to focus on next go ’round is not some perceived criteria of “electability.” What the GOP needs to focus on is nominating the best truly conservative candidate we can and educating the electorate on why they are the right choice, and then let the “electability” chips fall where they may. I am not going to vote for a moderate over a conservative because of “electability” and no one in the GOP who is smart should ever do so again either.
Shump on November 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM
She bombed in several major interviews during the 2008 campaign, and she continues to be unable to discuss issues in a way that isn’t totally shallow and clichéd. To this day she still hides from challenging interviews, and she cocoons herself in the friendly confines of Fox news. She can read words that others have written for her, but she cannot inspire confidence among most voters on her own to save her life.
bluegill on November 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Oh, come one. She didn’t run a highly efficent, wildly successful campaign like Mitt Romney did. Now there’s competence, bud.
ddrintn on November 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM
If the GOP doesn’t adopt a strong message of Freedom and Liberty, then they’ve got no message.
Axion on November 21, 2012 at 11:21 AM
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