Who could run in 2016?
The 2012 election is over, but attention has already turned toward potential 2016 presidential candidates
The 2012 election is (finally) over, but attention has already turned toward who could make a run for the White House in 2016. Here are some of the most likely candidates, according to the Wall Street Journal and International Business Times.
The 2012 election is (finally) over, but attention has already turned toward who could make a run for the White House in 2016. Here are some of the most likely candidates, according to the Wall Street Journal and International Business Times.
Hillary Clinton (Democrat) -- The secretary of state has repeatedly said she's not interested in running in 2016, but but her approval ratings are sky high and no Democrat could rival her name recognition, her fundraising prowess or her vast network of support.
Chris Christie (Republican) -- The New Jersey governor turned down pleas to run in 2012. Blunt and sometimes partisan, he's worked effectively with a Democratic legislature and has been praised for his response to Superstorm Sandy.
Joe Biden (Democrat) -- The vice presidency gives Biden an unrivaled platform to position himself for 2016, but his age (he would be 74 in 2016) and his penchant for the occasional indelicate remark may be big liabilities.
Paul Ryan (Republican) -- Despite losing the 2012 election as Mitt Romney's running mate, Ryan kept his seat in the House of Representatives, and remains on the radar for running in 2016 as a top fiscal conservative.
Cory Booker (Democrat) -- Newark's heroic mayor is a staple on cable news and the Sunday shows who has parlayed that exposure to build a national profile from the unlikely perch of a big-city mayor. Known for his accessibility and tireless campaigning, he holds degrees from Stanford, Oxford and Yale Law School.
Jeb Bush (Republican) -- The former governor of Florida acted as Mitt Romney’s most powerful surrogate there toward the end of the 2012 race and has expressed regret that timing issues prevented him from making a run of his own at the Oval Office.
Andrew Cuomo (Democrat) -- Cuomo was thrust into the national spotlight almost from the moment he was elected governor of New York, given his political pedigree: his father, Mario, was often mentioned as a potential White House candidate during his tenure as New York governor but never pulled the trigger.
Bob McDonnell (Republican) -- The Virginia governor is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, is considered effective in handling his state's legislature and is one of the few GOP hopefuls with military experience.
Martin O'Malley (Democrat, right) -- The governor of Maryland isn't necessarily a household name, but he's been traveling the country raising money for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and has become a staple of the Sunday morning talk shows.
Sarah Palin (Republican) -- She was a newbie to the national stage as John McCain's running mate in 2008, but some Republicans believe Palin has matured since then and still draws big crowds with GOP women.
Deval Patrick (Democrat) -- The Massachusetts governor brought the house down at the Democratic National Convention with a rousing defense of the president that sought to paint deep distinctions between Democrats and the GOP. He attended a big fundraising event for the Iowa Democratic Party earlier this year, and his close ties to Obama could give him access to the president’s vast network of supporters.
Marco Rubio (Republican) -- The freshman senator is considered an extremely attractive presidential hopeful with foreign policy experience. A leading Hispanic conservative, the Cuban-American appeals to Republicans reeling from a disastrous showing in the Latino vote.
