The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread (Part 2)

[Mr. Morden]

According to DMR's candidate tracker, Fiorina will make another visit to Iowa on March 13-14:

http://data.desmoinesregister.com/iowa-caucus/candidate-tracker/index.php

I don't get it.

What don't you get?

[Mr. Morden]

Huckabee on a potential run:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/234253-huckabee-2016-decision-forthcoming

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[Mr. Morden]

Rubio preparing for launch:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-republican-senator-marco-rubio-decision-2016-presidential-bid/

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[Mr. Morden]

Perry preparing to set up a Super PAC:

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/03/02/perry-steps-up-pac-staffing/

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O'Malley moves up his upcoming New Hampshire trip to an earlier date:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/omalley-heading-back-to-nh-a-little-sooner-than-previously-announced/2015/02/19/93e30ba8-b87c-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_story.html

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Meanwhile, O'Malley won't comment on whether he might run for Mikulski's Senate seat:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/omalley-not-discussing-senate-bid-yet#.fg0vY8kro

[Mr. Morden]

Quite a few Pubs will attend the RNC donor meeting later this month.

Specifically, Bush, Walker, Jindal, Perry, Rubio, Santorum, and Pataki.

Ehrlich talks 2016:

http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/01/what-about-bob-ehrlich-says-he-is-in-listening-tour-phase-of-potential-2016-run/

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Kasich has flown to DC in order to attend Netanyahu's address to Congress.  He also says he's planning a trip to NH:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/john-kasich-benjamin-netanyahu-congress-115685.html

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[Mr. Morden]

It bothers me Hillary won't get a real challenge within the party. Feels like 2000 with Al Gore.

Bradley actually led the polls in New Hampshire for a while and, despite being an underdog, was seen as having a realistic chance of winning the nomination.  That is, before Gore retook the lead in NH, and then steamrolled his way to winning every primary off of his IA and NH victories.  I doubt Clinton gets any challenger remotely as formidable as Bradley was at his peak.

[Mr. Morden]

Carson forms exploratory committee.

Is this a done deal?  Last time we thought we had an exploratory committee by Mr. Carson, the media walked it back saying it wasn't an exploratory committee.

Aren't you thinking of Graham rather than Carson?

[Mr. Morden]

Graham says "it’s more likely than not that he'll seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016":

http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/03/02/6848552/graham-targets-new-hampshire-for.html

Graham is also scheduled for a New Hampshire visit on March 9:

http://www.necn.com/news/politics/2016-New-Hampshire-Presidential-Candidate-Tracker-281958331.html

Then both Graham and Pataki will speak at a "WILD Irish Breakfast"(??) in Nashua, NH on March 17.

[Mr. Morden]

According to the Des Moines Register's candidate tracker, after the ag summit on Saturday, Cruz and Jindal will both appear at a separate Iowa event on Monday.  Then Perry has an event on the 19th at the West Des Moines Marriott.  Then Walker in Iowa on April 24 for an Iowa GOP fundraiser:

http://data.desmoinesregister.com/iowa-caucus/candidate-tracker/index.php

Meanwhile, Bush will be doing a New Hampshire trip on March 13-14:

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150303/NEWS06/150309690&template=mobileart

[Mr. Morden]

Another Clinton team hire:

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/03/04/clinton-hires-campaign-lawyer-ahead-of-likely-run/

[Mr. Morden]

Bush did a Nevada event two days ago, billed as "his first campaign-style event with a general audience in 13 years":

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bush-underscores-success-as-governor-in-first-foray-among-regular-folks/2015/03/02/8e0b2bc6-c0f0-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html

The Des Moines Register notes how, with Texas now the biggest primary state on Super Tuesday, the presidential race is already revving up in the state:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/02/23/presidential-race-texas-unusual-twist-rand-paul-rick-perry-ted-cruz-jeb-bush/23886523/

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[Mr. Morden]

Another "Freedom Summit" on May 9, this one in South Carolina:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/03/02/south-carolina-to-host-2016-gop-hopefuls-at-duncan-citizens-united-event/

2016ers planning to attend: Cruz, Graham, Jindal, Perry, Santorum

[Mr. Morden]

Updated list of GOP candidates who will attend the Iowa ag summit this weekend:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/02/iowa-ag-summit-preview-things-watch/24291605/

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It's more crowded than CPAC.

[Mr. Morden]

So last month, Huckabee actually signed a new deal as a pitchman for a "diabetes solution kit", something that's highly unusual for a presidential candidate, or pseudo-presidential candidate:

Mike Huckabee Rips ‘Mainstream Medical Community’ in Endorsement for ‘Diabetes Solution Kit’

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[Mr. Morden]

Walker goes to school on foreign policy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-making-of-scott-walker-statesman/2015/03/06/43b347b0-c286-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop

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Potential rival Peter King is less charitable:

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[Mr. Morden]

Both Gilmore and Perry have New Hampshire events this coming week:

http://www.wmur.com/news/potential-presidential-candidates-converge-on-the-granite-state/31677944

Huckabee says his 2016 decision will come "over the next several weeks":

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/03/07/huckabee-success-clinton-machine/24586569/

[Mr. Morden]

As part of their already announced upcoming trips to NH, both Bush and Graham will be meeting with Kelly Ayotte (at separate events):

link

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/is-joe-biden-running-for-president/387115/

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[Mr. Morden]

April 1 as "operational launch date" for Hillary in IA. She'll hire ~ 40 IA staffers around then, then has 15 days to declare per FEC rules.

Looks like a great setup for an April Fool's joke.

[Mr. Morden]

Bernie Sanders is uncertain about whether Bernie Sanders can mount a serious campaign:

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-09/can-bernie-sanders-make-a-serious-run-for-president-bernie-sanders-isn-t-sure-

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[Mr. Morden]

Trump is hiring staff in South Carolina:

http://www.thestate.com/2015/03/10/4037232/donald-trump-builds-sc-staff-for.html

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[Mr. Morden]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeb-bush-leaves-last-business-commitments-as-campaign-looms/2015/03/11/4cf4b83e-c82d-11e4-bea5-b893e7ac3fb3_story.html

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[Mr. Morden]

Several candidates from both parties (including a rare appearance by Jim Webb!) spoke to a firefighters union conference yesterday:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/235257-2016-hopefuls-make-pitches-to-firefighters-union

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Biden also attended the event one day earlier, and Bush didn't show up, but instead spoke via a pre-taped address.

[Mr. Morden]

Kasich doesn't know when he's going to decide:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/kasich-i-dont-know-when-im-going-to-make-a-decisio/nkQJh/

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Santorum joins Cruz and Jindal in South Carolina on Saturday for the "S.C. National Security Action Summit":

http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/03/11/3638364/2016-in-sc-rick-santorum-to-speak.html

[Mr. Morden]

Peter King also spoke before the firefighters union convention, and spent a lot of time attacking other Republicans re: the almost-shutdown of DHS:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/peter-king-blasts-gop-firefighters-dhs-shutdown-115939.html

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