Viable Republican Presidential Candidates for 2016

[Bo]

I think George Allen should climb back on the horse.

Allen is too damaged by Macacagate to be a good Presidential candidate and he'd need to return to elected office before running for President. Unfortunately for him, there are no elected offices where he would easily get elected.

That might actually help him in the SC primary and it wouldn't matter in the Iowa primary.  I'm sure he'll win a large percentage of the Jewish vote if he was the presidential candidate since he's half Jewish on his mother's side.

I doubt Jewish voters really care about Allen's ancestry, especially considering that he himself isn't Jewish. Also, the South isn't as racist as it used to be (Obama won several states there and Tim Scott, a black Republican, won a GOP primary in SC this year), so his Macaca clip won't help him that much. Allen will be out of office for ten years in 2016. No one will remember him and he will need to find some way to fundraise huge amounts of money, and I don't see him doing that without getting elected to something first. The problem is, what office can he easily get elected to?

[feeblepizza]

I think George Allen should climb back on the horse.

Allen is too damaged by Macacagate to be a good Presidential candidate and he'd need to return to elected office before running for President. Unfortunately for him, there are no elected offices where he would easily get elected.

That might actually help him in the SC primary and it wouldn't matter in the Iowa primary.  I'm sure he'll win a large percentage of the Jewish vote if he was the presidential candidate since he's half Jewish on his mother's side.

I doubt Jewish voters really care about Allen's ancestry, especially considering that he himself isn't Jewish. Also, the South isn't as racist as it used to be (Obama won several states there and Tim Scott, a black Republican, won a GOP primary in SC this year), so his Macaca clip won't help him that much. Allen will be out of office for ten years in 2016. No one will remember him and he will need to find some way to fundraise huge amounts of money, and I don't see him doing that without getting elected to something first. The problem is, what office can he easily get elected to?

Allen is considering a rematch for his old Senate seat in 2012. I think that he could win it with a fair amount of hard work. He COULD win office, but not easily.

Maybe Virginia Governor in 2013? Provided that McDonnell remains popular for all of his term, he could take the Governor's office again. There is no rule against him taking two (or as many as possible) terms nonconsecutively, after all.

[feeblepizza]

And non sarcastically, you will have Romney because that is all he knows how to do. He will run, and run, and run, no matter what, and keep changing his persona to fit the bill.

I can see him running in every election from 2008-2024. If he lives an extremely long life (as is common with Mormons) you could see him running in the 2030s.

[Bo]

I think George Allen should climb back on the horse.

Allen is too damaged by Macacagate to be a good Presidential candidate and he'd need to return to elected office before running for President. Unfortunately for him, there are no elected offices where he would easily get elected.

That might actually help him in the SC primary and it wouldn't matter in the Iowa primary.  I'm sure he'll win a large percentage of the Jewish vote if he was the presidential candidate since he's half Jewish on his mother's side.

I doubt Jewish voters really care about Allen's ancestry, especially considering that he himself isn't Jewish. Also, the South isn't as racist as it used to be (Obama won several states there and Tim Scott, a black Republican, won a GOP primary in SC this year), so his Macaca clip won't help him that much. Allen will be out of office for ten years in 2016. No one will remember him and he will need to find some way to fundraise huge amounts of money, and I don't see him doing that without getting elected to something first. The problem is, what office can he easily get elected to?

Allen is considering a rematch for his old Senate seat in 2012. I think that he could win it with a fair amount of hard work. He COULD win office, but not easily.

Maybe Virginia Governor in 2013? Provided that McDonnell remains popular for all of his term, he could take the Governor's office again. There is no rule against him taking two (or as many as possible) terms nonconsecutively, after all.

For the Senate, Ken Cuccinelli could also want to run in 2012 and thus Allen might need to beat him in a primary. Same with VA Gov. in 2013--Bill Bolling is going to want that job and McDonnell would probably support him considering that Bolling stepped aside for him in 2009. Thus, if he runs for Senate or Governor, Allen could definitely face a serious primary, not to mention a tough general election campaign. Even if he does manage to return to elected office, a Presidential run would publicize some other baggage that he has (displaying the Confederate flag in college, I believe) and thus his support could easily collapse. I think Allen's glory days are behind him.

[Bo]

And non sarcastically, you will have Romney because that is all he knows how to do. He will run, and run, and run, no matter what, and keep changing his persona to fit the bill.

I can see him running in every election from 2008-2024. If he lives an extremely long life (as is common with Mormons) you could see him running in the 2030s.

If he loses in 2012, Romney probably wouldn't want to spend any more of his money on futile Presidential bids.

[feeblepizza]

I think George Allen should climb back on the horse.

Allen is too damaged by Macacagate to be a good Presidential candidate and he'd need to return to elected office before running for President. Unfortunately for him, there are no elected offices where he would easily get elected.

That might actually help him in the SC primary and it wouldn't matter in the Iowa primary.  I'm sure he'll win a large percentage of the Jewish vote if he was the presidential candidate since he's half Jewish on his mother's side.

I doubt Jewish voters really care about Allen's ancestry, especially considering that he himself isn't Jewish. Also, the South isn't as racist as it used to be (Obama won several states there and Tim Scott, a black Republican, won a GOP primary in SC this year), so his Macaca clip won't help him that much. Allen will be out of office for ten years in 2016. No one will remember him and he will need to find some way to fundraise huge amounts of money, and I don't see him doing that without getting elected to something first. The problem is, what office can he easily get elected to?

Allen is considering a rematch for his old Senate seat in 2012. I think that he could win it with a fair amount of hard work. He COULD win office, but not easily.

Maybe Virginia Governor in 2013? Provided that McDonnell remains popular for all of his term, he could take the Governor's office again. There is no rule against him taking two (or as many as possible) terms nonconsecutively, after all.

For the Senate, Ken Cuccinelli could also want to run in 2012 and thus Allen might need to beat him in a primary. Same with VA Gov. in 2013--Bill Bolling is going to want that job and McDonnell would probably support him considering that Bolling stepped aside for him in 2009. Thus, if he runs for Senate or Governor, Allen could definitely face a serious primary, not to mention a tough general election campaign. Even if he does manage to return to elected office, a Presidential run would publicize some other baggage that he has (displaying the Confederate flag in college, I believe) and thus his support could easily collapse. I think Allen's glory days are behind him.

Exactly. I said that he could win office, but it won't be easy. His glory days are indeed behind him. Plus the age question always comes 'round.

[milhouse24]

And non sarcastically, you will have Romney because that is all he knows how to do. He will run, and run, and run, no matter what, and keep changing his persona to fit the bill.

I can see him running in every election from 2008-2024. If he lives an extremely long life (as is common with Mormons) you could see him running in the 2030s.

I'm actually surprised he is not RNC chairman, that would help him win over the evangelical leaders, possibly.

[Bo]

And non sarcastically, you will have Romney because that is all he knows how to do. He will run, and run, and run, no matter what, and keep changing his persona to fit the bill.

I can see him running in every election from 2008-2024. If he lives an extremely long life (as is common with Mormons) you could see him running in the 2030s.

I'm actually surprised he is not RNC chairman, that would help him win over the evangelical leaders, possibly.

RNC Chairmen typically don't run for President. You can't manage your party and run a Presidential campaign at the same time without doing a bad job.

[milhouse24]

And non sarcastically, you will have Romney because that is all he knows how to do. He will run, and run, and run, no matter what, and keep changing his persona to fit the bill.

I can see him running in every election from 2008-2024. If he lives an extremely long life (as is common with Mormons) you could see him running in the 2030s.

I'm actually surprised he is not RNC chairman, that would help him win over the evangelical leaders, possibly.

RNC Chairmen typically don't run for President. You can't manage your party and run a Presidential campaign at the same time without doing a bad job.

Are you aware that RNC chairman is only for 2 years?  He could have run against Steele.

GHWB served as chairman before he ran against reagan in 1980

[Mr. Morden]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

[feeblepizza]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

Um, Rasmussen had Chris Christie at 57% approval earlier this month. Not exactly "the toilet".

[feeblepizza]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

Um, Rasmussen had Chris Christie at 57% approval earlier this month. Not exactly "the toilet".

That's Rasmussen we're talking about, Libertas. Historically, his ratings have been in the 30s and 40s.

[Mr. Morden]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

Uh, his last job approval number was 45%, no?:

link

And there are still three years to go before he faces reelection.  Many many governors have rebounded from worse approval numbers than that.  Governors across the country are unpopular right now, because of the economy.  That isn't necessarily still going to be the case in 2013.

And I wouldn't rule out the possibility of him going the Romney route and stepping down after one term to run for prez in 2016.  I don't think GOP primary voters are going to punish him for that.  Romney paid no price for doing that in 2008.  He lost the nomination to McCain for reasons that were unrelated to his stepping down after one term.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

Uh, his last job approval number was 45%, no?:

link

And there are still three years to go before he faces reelection.  Many many governors have rebounded from worse approval numbers than that.  Governors across the country are unpopular right now, because of the economy.  That isn't necessarily still going to be the case in 2013.

And I wouldn't rule out the possibility of him going the Romney route and stepping down after one term to run for prez in 2016.  I don't think GOP primary voters are going to punish him for that.  Romney paid no price for doing that in 2008.  He lost the nomination to McCain for reasons that were unrelated to his stepping down after one term.

Yeah even that "Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Press Media poll" has his approval at +7 (45-38).

And here's the Rasmussen from September 7 putting him at 57-43.

[Mr. Morden]

What was Mitch Daniels's job approval rating in 2005?  42%?  It's now in the high 60s, or something like that.

[feeblepizza]

What was Mitch Daniels's job approval rating in 2005?  42%?  It's now in the high 60s, or something like that.

Closer to 70, yes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Chris Christie seems to be generating more and more buzz, though there's no way he's going to run in 2012, so maybe 2016?  Of course, it depend on whether he's able to win reelection or not, and whether he wants to potentially cut his second term short for the presidency.  He's young enough that waiting until 2020 is a viable option.

His approval ratings are in the toilet and it would take a miracle for him to win reelection at this point. He would make a fine president, but, sadly, he can't win after being a one-term Governor.

Um, Rasmussen had Chris Christie at 57% approval earlier this month. Not exactly "the toilet".

That's Rasmussen we're talking about, Libertas. Historically, his ratings have been in the 30s and 40s.

One poll had his approval in the low 30's back early in the year. All of them since have been between 45% and 60% in the last few months.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

What was Mitch Daniels's job approval rating in 2005?  42%?  It's now in the high 60s, or something like that.

It got lower then that at one point, I think. SurveyUSA had him, Fletcher and Blunt as the most unpopular Governors after Taft and Murkowski were gone.

[reagan84]

I've jumped on the Mitch Daniels 2012 bandwagon
- if he loses, I would want Jindal, Rubio, Chris Christie in 2016.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

I would want Jindal, Rubio, Chris Christie in 2016.

Those are my three favorite 2016 presidentiables as well.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I would want Jindal, Rubio, Chris Christie in 2016.

Those are my three favorite 2016 presidentiables as well.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

What about Mike Pence (IN)

[JRP1994]

Ahhhh the good old days.

[libertpaulian]

What about Mike Pence (IN)

I think he might get tapped as VP.