The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread

[RogueBeaver]

NYT headline calls Warren the "hot ticket of the far left." Talk about trollish Dem establishment hackery. The article itself says that she was invited to headline Harkin's steak fry but she declined. She and aides repeatedly denied in interviews that she has any WH interest, but Axelrod is quoted as saying she'll face a lot of pressure to run if Hillary declines. Nor is Martin the only one to think this: Scheiber and Brownstein have also said that Warren would be Hillary's most formidable primary opponent. I don't think Warren runs in either scenario myself.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's the money quote from the NYT column:

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[PolitiJunkie]

I'd be willing to bet my life on the fact that Elizabeth Warren will never run for President.

[Mr. Morden]

Regarding the Value Voters Summit in DC next week, the following 2016ers have been invited:

http://therun2016.com/christie-bush-king-uninvited/

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Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and Peter King were not invited.

[Mr. Morden]

Rand Paul says that presidential speculation about him is good for Kentucky:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/325961-rand-paul-presidential-speculation-good-for-kentucky

Jesse Ventura again floats the possibility of running for president as an Independent in 2016, with Howard Stern as his running mate:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/30/game-over-jesse-ventura-wants-howard-stern-as-running-mate-for-2016-presidential-run/

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Rand Paul says that presidential speculation about him is good for Kentucky:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/325961-rand-paul-presidential-speculation-good-for-kentucky

Jesse Ventura again floats the possibility of running for president as an Independent in 2016, with Howard Stern as his running mate:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/30/game-over-jesse-ventura-wants-howard-stern-as-running-mate-for-2016-presidential-run/

Howard Stern has shut down the VP bid, saying to cohost Robin Quivers "I just f[inks]ing can't say no" on his show a few weeks back. I am a devoted listener, so I will keep my eyes (or ears) open for any further mention.

[Mordecai]

I don't think Warren runs in either scenario myself.

I'd be willing to bet my life on the fact that Elizabeth Warren will never run for President.

Agreed, and also not as anyone's VP.

[PolitiJunkie]

I don't think Warren runs in either scenario myself.

I'd be willing to bet my life on the fact that Elizabeth Warren will never run for President.

Agreed, and also not as anyone's VP.

I wouldn't be willing to bet my LIFE on her not being VP, because that depends more on someone else's decision than her own, but yeah also very unlikely.

[Miles]

Huntsman criticizing both parties for the shutdown.

[Maxwell]

Huntsman criticizing both parties for the shutdown.

Uggh. No.

[PolitiJunkie]

Huntsman criticizing both parties for the shutdown.

Uggh. No.

I prefer when Huntsman sticks to criticizing his own party.

[Senator Spiral]

Rand Paul says that presidential speculation about him is good for Kentucky:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/325961-rand-paul-presidential-speculation-good-for-kentucky

Jesse Ventura again floats the possibility of running for president as an Independent in 2016, with Howard Stern as his running mate:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/30/game-over-jesse-ventura-wants-howard-stern-as-running-mate-for-2016-presidential-run/

Howard Stern has shut down the VP bid, saying to cohost Robin Quivers "I just f[inks]ing can't say no" on his show a few weeks back. I am a devoted listener, so I will keep my eyes (or ears) open for any further mention.

Looks like the two of 'em still have interest in it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMfUVnMNBwE

[Mr. Morden]

Huntsman is visiting South Carolina on Friday, "to address the World Affairs Council and visit the Mandarin Chinese program at Hilton Head Island Elementary School."

http://therun2016.com/huntsman-to-south-carolina/

It'll be his first South Carolina visit of the year.

[RogueBeaver]

Hillary said she probably won't start thinking about it till sometime next year, like a couple of Pubs (Rubio, Perry) have already said.

[Mr. Morden]

Santorum visiting South Carolina on Sunday:

http://therun2016.com/santorum-returns-to-south-carolina/

[Blue3]

Hillary Clinton Pushes For Early Education In Campaign

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[Mr. Morden]

Ventura asked on Crossfire about whether he'll run in 2016, and he gives a "maybe":

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/04/jesse-ventura-presidential-bid-a-definite-maybe/

[Mr. Morden]

Catanese notes that despite Huntsman's visit to South Carolina this weekend, he's actually sounding increasingly skeptical about another run:

http://therun2016.com/huntsman-drifts-away-from-2016-run/

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So he's not running for president, but just happens to be going on a tour of states with February primaries, like Arizona, Michigan, and South Carolina?  OK....we'll leave it there for now.  Not ready to cross him off the list of possibles just yet, pending a direct quote of a Shermanesque denial.  I mean, the Island Packet writes "Huntsman said the 2012 process was a good experience, but he will not run again in three years", but what is the exact quote he gave?  Did he actually say "I will not run", or was it just a weasel-worded non-denial like "I have no plans to run"?

[Mr. Morden]

Jindal says that he'd like to see the GOP nominate a governor for president in 2016:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/360595/jindal-we-should-nominate-governor-2016-andrew-johnson

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Not that this opinion that a governor would make the best choice is colored by Jindal's own resume, of course. 

[Mr. Morden]

Christie doesn't rule out 2016 presidential campaign during NJ gubernatorial debate:

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2013/10/chris_christie_wont_rule_out_2.html

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[RogueBeaver]

Pubs using shutdown as a stakeout.

[RogueBeaver]

This NJ story about Rubio dropping off the radar is from a few days ago. Today Norquist said the governors will be big players and Cruz/Rubio "just showed up."

[Mr. Morden]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/christian-conservatives-to-meet-cruz-and-rand-paul/?_r=0

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[Mr. Morden]

I mention some soundbites from the Value Voter Summit here:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=180440.0

Bachmann, Carson, Cruz, Paul, Rubio, Ryan, and Santorum all spoke there, and Cruz won the straw poll.

Regarding specific comments about whether or not they'd run for president….

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/328047-ben-carson-obamacare-slavery-both-evil

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Santorum teased another run, and took a bit of a swipe at Cruz and Paul for their inexperience:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/328177-santorum-ill-put-my-record-up-against-anybody

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He also said that his biggest mistake in 2012 was not devoting enough time to early fundraising, which he'll correct the next time around:

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[Mr. Morden]

Hickenlooper is weird.  At times, he seems exasperated that people want to talk about him as a potential presidential candidate.  Back in June, he said "I have no interest in running in 2016, just so we’re absolutely clear.”

But then a few days ago, he goes and says that the discord in Washington is discouraging him from a presidential run:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/colorado-gov--hickenlooper-on-2016--dc-dysfunction-‘discouraging’-him-from-presidential-run-214314188.html

If he already wasn't going to run, then how can he be further discouraged from running?  Why even talk about running, if he doesn't want to run?  This just seems suspiciously like he's holding out hope:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA

Meanwhile, Allen West says he might run for something in 2014 or 2016, but doesn't know if it'll be the House, Senate, or the Presidency:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/328121-allen-west-open-to-run-for-white-house-senate-or-house-in-2016

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