- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 51,639
- Reaction score
- 35,431
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Conservative
Re: For Non Democrats Only: Who Would You Like To See Win The 2016 Republican Primar
Of the non-executives, I think Rubio has the best chance of winning a general election and I'd probably say Rand would be my favorite in terms of ideology. Rubio would probably be the only one I'd actively want, from a political science perspective, to be the top of the ticket out of the non-executives. I believe he has the appeal and charisma to actually be successful.
However, ultimately, my preference would be for an Executive at the top of the ticket.
I like Huntsman. He is, by far, the most experienced person person for the position that probably any side can put forward imho, probably a notch above Hillary. He's substantial experience as an government executive. He has experience in the private sector as an executive. He has foreign policy experience through his ambassadorship. He has federal executive branch experience under a number of Presidents.
Christie is another person with Executive Experience I wouldn't mind seeing at the top of the ticket. I think he's more electable in the primaries than Huntsman is, and probably more electable in 2016 than Huntsman is (I still say Huntsman would've been the prototype candidate in 2012). He provides a top of the ticket individual who is fically and governmentally conservative and makes that his focus. While he has social conservative leanings, it has never been a focus of his and I don't believe an attempt to MAKE it a focus by the Democrats (a major campaign tactic in recent years) will play nearly as well because of it. I actually think he may be the BEST top of ticket executive, from a poli sci perspective, because I think he has independent appeal while still having the potential for conservative appeal. Pair him with a strong conservative VP and it'd be a strong ticket.
Walker is an interesting notion, but I wonder what the national tenur is on him. Being in the news largley based on what was presented as "controversies", rightly or wrongly, makes me question how well he'll play.
Jindal I think is a non-starter, at least to me. I've never been very taken with him in terms of charisma. Bombing out his first time on the national stage doesn't help.
My dark horse candidate that I'd like to see get involved and I think could be EXTREMELY formidable as a candidate both in the primaries and in the national campaign would be Nikki Haley. Executive experience as governor of south carolina. A favorite of the tea party. At the same time...female, minority, with non-christian family. She is an individual that would be difficult to attack in the ways one typically attacks the tea party. Unlike Sarah Palin, she'll have served as Governor for quite some time by the time of the primaries and elections making the notion of her running less of a "Gimmick" (won by 4.5% the first time, and is now the incumbant which traditionall helps. Early RCP average has her +9).
I'd be happy to see a Nikki Haley / John Huntsman ticket or a Christie / Rand Paul ticket off hand at the moment.
Of the non-executives, I think Rubio has the best chance of winning a general election and I'd probably say Rand would be my favorite in terms of ideology. Rubio would probably be the only one I'd actively want, from a political science perspective, to be the top of the ticket out of the non-executives. I believe he has the appeal and charisma to actually be successful.
However, ultimately, my preference would be for an Executive at the top of the ticket.
I like Huntsman. He is, by far, the most experienced person person for the position that probably any side can put forward imho, probably a notch above Hillary. He's substantial experience as an government executive. He has experience in the private sector as an executive. He has foreign policy experience through his ambassadorship. He has federal executive branch experience under a number of Presidents.
Christie is another person with Executive Experience I wouldn't mind seeing at the top of the ticket. I think he's more electable in the primaries than Huntsman is, and probably more electable in 2016 than Huntsman is (I still say Huntsman would've been the prototype candidate in 2012). He provides a top of the ticket individual who is fically and governmentally conservative and makes that his focus. While he has social conservative leanings, it has never been a focus of his and I don't believe an attempt to MAKE it a focus by the Democrats (a major campaign tactic in recent years) will play nearly as well because of it. I actually think he may be the BEST top of ticket executive, from a poli sci perspective, because I think he has independent appeal while still having the potential for conservative appeal. Pair him with a strong conservative VP and it'd be a strong ticket.
Walker is an interesting notion, but I wonder what the national tenur is on him. Being in the news largley based on what was presented as "controversies", rightly or wrongly, makes me question how well he'll play.
Jindal I think is a non-starter, at least to me. I've never been very taken with him in terms of charisma. Bombing out his first time on the national stage doesn't help.
My dark horse candidate that I'd like to see get involved and I think could be EXTREMELY formidable as a candidate both in the primaries and in the national campaign would be Nikki Haley. Executive experience as governor of south carolina. A favorite of the tea party. At the same time...female, minority, with non-christian family. She is an individual that would be difficult to attack in the ways one typically attacks the tea party. Unlike Sarah Palin, she'll have served as Governor for quite some time by the time of the primaries and elections making the notion of her running less of a "Gimmick" (won by 4.5% the first time, and is now the incumbant which traditionall helps. Early RCP average has her +9).
I'd be happy to see a Nikki Haley / John Huntsman ticket or a Christie / Rand Paul ticket off hand at the moment.
