Several analogues have been drawn between Richard Nixon and Barack Obama on this site. If these analogues extend to President Obama's successors, a moderate Republican governor could be elected in 2016 (Chris Christie) only to face a stagnating economy and deteriorating foreign relations and be replaced by a charismatic Democratic governor (Andrew Cuomo or Gavin Newsom) in 2020. Just some food for thought...
There have been some comparisons between Carter and Christie. I think there is some merit to this. Lots of people across the political spectrum like Christie, but very few love him. I could see the Republican base abandoning him if the economy faltered. And if he does win in 2016, he would do it with a very different coalition/EC map than most winning Republicans. I just don't know if he can get past Clinton, though.
Finally, a Democratic Reagan would have to be someone who is currently a bit too left wing to be taken seriously. Newsom is a possibility, but Cuomo is way too mainstream and moderate. Elizabeth Warren is probably the most obvious candidate to advance a Newer Deal, but she would be in her 70's by 2020.
