Early Stages Of 2016 Presidential Election Show Big Contrast For Democrats, Republicans

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Democrats and Republicans, the early stages of the 2016 presidential contest are worlds apart.

Many Democrats already view Hillary Rodham Clinton as a quasi-incumbent, someone who could take the reins from President Barack Obama. The former secretary of state has made no decisions about her political future but has done little to dampen enthusiasm about another presidential campaign, traveling the country making speeches and preparing to release another book.

Republicans have no clear front-runner and expect a crowded primary field that could include fresh-faced candidates like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. For a party that typically backs established politicians, 2016 could be the most jumbled GOP White House campaign in a generation.

As the Obama era nears its final midterm elections, the campaign to succeed him has already begun: Prospective candidates on both sides have been quietly courting donors, taking steps to build an organization and making scouting trips to early voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The official starting line, however, is likely a year away.

Next year will be about building the foundations of a campaign, compiling a policy agenda and raising money for House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates who could become future allies.

And each side faces its own intra-party divisions.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/02/2016-presidential-election_n_4532476.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[jaysunb]

1. I wish we could just have one President at a time and

try to get something accomplished during the current administration.

[Purveyor]

2. I wish we could just get the one we "thought" we voted for... eom

[Whisp]

3. awwwwwww.....

you must be sooooooooooo disappointed.

[Purveyor]

5. I wouldn't categorize it as "sooooooooooo disappointed" but mildly disappointed fits.

[Whisp]

7. So mild it's worth mentioning...

every chance you get?

I do that toward the Clintons, and it sure isn't mild, so I guess I should try to be more understanding. It's hard werk tho!

[Blanks]

4. Hillary is getting too old.

Howard Dean or some other former governor will run.

My prediction is that Dean (who hasn't ruled out a run like Warren has) will work hard to get a democratic majority in congress in 2014 and will be pushed forward as the candidate to beat.

Rand Paul will step up for the slaughter, with Rubio as his 'Palin'.

Since Dean is laying the ground work for the 2014 takeover by showing up on TV supporting Obamacare.

The Medicaid expansion in blue states will be compared to the denial in the red states - the red states with democratic governors (like Kentucky and Arkansas) will get rid of their republican senators and representatives giving the democrats control of congress.

We should be working on 2014.

[otohara]

6. Howard Dean Is One Year Younger Than Hillary

why isn't he too old?

Your post about Hillary's age

[Blanks]

8. I'm pretty sure I don't want to answer that.

She's been in the public eye for a long time. Don't get me wrong. I like Hillary, but it was over 20 years ago when her husband was elected president.

Howard Dean may not be much younger, but he's newer. Besides we had a Bush, a Clinton, then another Bush. Do we really need another Clinton so soon?

Historically, the Vice President after an 8 year term doesn't fare well when running for president. After 8 years people are ready to move on. I think the same dynamic applies - we have new voters and some of the older voters have died off. People want change.

The other non-age factor is experience. In the past few decades of elections governors seem to do better than legislators. If Romney had been on the republican ticket in 2008 I believe he would have come closer to winning.

So it isn't her actual age that makes me feel like she's too old as much as it is our familiarity with her.

My wife doesn't agree with me either, so I recognize that maybe some of it is just old bastardness that doesn't want to see Hillary at the top of the ticket in 2016.

[otohara]

9. So Now She's Overqualified?

Correct me if I'm wrong... the longer you do something the more experience you gain, or not?

She will be one of the most qualified candidates to run EVER!

Keep digging dude, and listen to your wife.

[Blanks]

10. Trust me. I always listen to my wife.

But Al Gore was incredibly more qualified than Bush, and even though Gore won (despite the hellish period of time known as the Bush administration) a candidates qualifications seem to be very low on the list of priorities that voters take into account.

Obviously I will vote for her if she is on the ticket, but I don't think its gonna happen.

[otohara]

11. 544,000 More Votes for Al Gore

popular votes.

Our fucked up electoral system and disenfranchising won in 2000.
Seems the "people" knew who they wanted and voted accordingly.

[Blanks]

13. The point is that he was considerably more qualified than Dubya...

Which illustrates that there are a lot of factors besides how qualified a candidate is that voters take into account.

I don't know what factor would put Bush out front be in the case of Gore and Bush. I was surprised it was that close, let alone close enough that it could be stolen the way it was.

I don't have a huge problem with the electoral college. I'd rather it was changed so that the two senator votes went to the candidate that won the state, but the representative votes went to the candidate that won the district.

[SmittynMo]

12. So it looks like the Dems have their shit together, AGAIN.

The GOP does not have a front runner, because, just like the last election, they are going to pick a loser. No one candidate supports all the craziness that this party supports. And they NEVER give a straight answer to difficult questions. I look forward to it.