will ryan be the 2016 gop nominee

[WalterMitty]

discuss.

[tmthforu94]

No, because Romney will be.

He may be a 2020 candidate, though.

[© tweed]

the odds are always against any individual outcome this far away.  polls like this are dumb.

[WalterMitty]

we arent gambling on it, tweed.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

[Eraserhead]

No. He'll seem like damaged goods after Romney loses.

[California8429]

No. He'll seem like damaged goods after Romney loses.

^ Unless he distances himself enough like Palin did from McCain (though don't BE Palin for heaven's sakes). I think Ryan will maintain a separate image and will be heralded as the only thing good to happen in this campaign for Romney by the GOP in two years.

[Bull Moose Base]

Probably. Maybe not if Romney-Ryan loses by > McCain-Palin lost by.

[Progressive]

Curse of the GOP  Veeps and Veep candidates

Quayle. Cheney. Palin. Now Ryan. All have underwhelmed, become unpopular, and never lived up to national aspirations (Cheney by choice, I think).

[Holmes]

No. He'll seem like damaged goods after Romney loses.

The GOP loves nominating past losers.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Only if elected this November and something causes Romney ro not run for reelections.

[Supersonic]

A 2016 GOP primary, in the event Romney loses, between Chirs Christie, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan would simply be delicious.

[milhouse24]

Paul Ryan's dad and grandfather never lives past 56 years old. 

Paul is 42 now, so he should live long enough to run for president in 2020 at the age of 50.

[Averroës Nix]

No. He'll seem like damaged goods after Romney loses.

I doubt it. Republicans will go back to despising Romney as they did until he became the presumptive nominee, and they'll be eager to saddle him with most of the blame.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Paul Ryan's dad and grandfather never lives past 56 years old. 

Paul is 42 now, so he should live long enough to run for president in 2020 at the age of 50.

That'd very kind of you.

[ZuWo]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Isn't the next in line Rick Santorum, at least as far as the history of the GOP and its presidential nominees is concerned?

[Rhodie]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Isn't the next in line Rick Santorum, at least as far as the history of the GOP and its presidential nominees is concerned?

Good point if you look at 1976, 1980, 1988 and 2000, where the runner up would become GOP nominee later on.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Two Catholics duking it out for the nomination? My God, what's this world come to?

[Keystone Phil]

A 2016 GOP primary, in the event Romney loses, between Chirs Christie, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan would simply be delicious.

With the exception of Rand (and adding in Santorum), 2016 really should be awesome.

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Two Catholics duking it out for the nomination? My God, what's this world come to?

And Santorum.

And yes, whether you like him or not, Santorum is the next in line. Ryan could certainly change that (plus, Rick isn't guaranteed to run again) but it won't start out that way. I could definitely see Ryan breaking the GOP losing running mate curse. Barring a total meltdown, he would at least be relevant in four years unlike Dole in '80, Quayle in '96 and Palin this year.

[Reaganfan]

A 2016 GOP primary, in the event Romney loses, between Chirs Christie, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Paul Ryan would simply be delicious.

With the exception of Rand (and adding in Santorum), 2016 really should be awesome.

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Two Catholics duking it out for the nomination? My God, what's this world come to?

And Santorum.

And yes, whether you like him or not, Santorum is the next in line. Ryan could certainly change that (plus, Rick isn't guaranteed to run again) but it won't start out that way. I could definitely see Ryan breaking the GOP losing running mate curse. Barring a total meltdown, he would at least be relevant in four years unlike Dole in '80, Quayle in '96 and Palin this year.

Looking back, Quayle was quite relevant in 1993-1995 before deciding against a run.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I wouldn't underestimate Santorum. First, there's this whole "next in line" mentality. Second, he really performed very well this year, especially considering where he started.

[Mr. Morden]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Two Catholics duking it out for the nomination? My God, what's this world come to?

Christie, Jindal, McDonnell, Rubio, Ryan, Santorum, and Jeb Bush are all Catholics, so if Obama wins this year, the chances are extraordinarily high that the 2016 GOP nominee will be a Catholic.  Biden, Cuomo, O'Malley, and Schweitzer are all Catholic as well, so if HRC doesn't run, there's a good chance the Dems will also nominate a Catholic.

[Mr. Morden]

I wouldn't underestimate Santorum. First, there's this whole "next in line" mentality. Second, he really performed very well this year, especially considering where he started.

The "next in line" thing works for the GOP when the candidate is someone who the party establishment can embrace.  Santorum may have come in 2nd this time, but he was more like a Huckabee candidate than a Romney candidate....not the type that the party establishment and big money donors are likely to embrace if there are other options like Christie, Ryan, and Rubio running.

[morgieb]

He's "next in line" now, for sure. He'll likely have to fend off a very strong challenge from Christie in the next open election, though.

Two Catholics duking it out for the nomination? My God, what's this world come to?

If Obama wins this year I'd imagine both major nominees will be Catholics.

[Miles]

Paul Ryan's dad and grandfather never lives past 56 years old.  

Paul is 42 now, so he should live long enough to run for president in 2020 at the age of 50.

Ok, it was creepy enough when you said Ryan has "at least 14 years to live"; please stop with this.