When we look around and think things appear pretty gloomy for big D Democracy (the kind that focuses on making people’s lives better), we can take comfort in the knowledge that our political opponents will, for the second time in 4 years, be in disarray as they try to choose whether to hate in the open or hate in a less full-throated way.
The field of Republican 2016 hopefuls has the potential for more white-on-white violence than a Walmart Black Friday event. One author breaks the candidates into the following categories:
THE BIG THREE
These candidates will leverage strong donor bases and have the most potential to bridge the establishment vs. conservative gap.
– Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.)
– Gov. Chris Christie (N.J.)
– Former Gov. Jeb Bush (Fla.)THE CONSERVATIVE GUNNERS
The 2012 Republican field was roiled by conservative upstarts, but those driving the conversation to the right this time around will be more polished and better funded.
– Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)
– Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas)THE SECOND TIER
In any other year, these two might be near the top of the list but each has a glaring issue that knocks them down a peg.
– Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
– Gov. Scott Walker (Wis.)NEEDS AN IOWA MIRACLE
The strong competition and narrow path for these candidates has some questioning whether they’ll be able to break through.
– Gov. Rick Perry (Texas)
– Dr. Ben CarsonWAITING IN THE WINGS
Expect to see a lot of this bunch on the campaign trail, even if it’s just to build chits for a potential Cabinet spot or vice presidential candidacy.
– Gov. Mike Pence (Ind.)
– Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.)
– Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio)
– Gov. John Kasich (Ohio)
More …
But missing from this list is the front runner in the latest New Hampshire Poll: Mitt Romney. The first poll of the 2016 campaign cycle found this:
Romney leads with 30 percent of the vote in a Bloomberg Politics/St. Anselm New Hampshire poll released Monday. It is a healthy 19-point lead over other possible GOP names, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who trails at 11 percent. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received 9 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush won 8 percent, and Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and conservative commentator, follows with 6 percent.
One percent chose “Someone else”, “None of the above (these were the choices offered by the pollster: “Mitt Romney, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush, Rick Perry, Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, Mike Huckabee, and Ben Carson”) won 3%. Huckabee, Ryan, and Cruz each tallied 5%, with Jindal receiving 3% and Perry trailing the pack with 2%. Eleven percent said they didn’t know.
Another poll, the Quinnipiac also noted the groundswell of support for Mitt but additionally showed the results of a Mitt-less 2016:
Republican voters nationwide look towards 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney to get back in the game for 2016, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released Wednesday.
Voters give the former Massachusetts governor the top rank at 19 percent in an early glimpse of the 2016 presidential race. Romney continues to insist he will not seek the White House for a third time.
With Romney out of the race, however, former Gov. Jeb Bush leads with 14 percent, followed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 11 percent. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a conservative Tea Party favorite, gets 9 percent, while U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky gets 8 percent. Another 19 percent remain undecided.
Who do you think will win the nomination or is there a dark horse candidate who will emerge to unite the nativist wing of the party with the Wall Street wing of the party?
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