There will be very little drama in this year’s Alabama general elections, since most of the action these days is in the Republican primary.
On the national level, all of the attention is focused on whether or not Republicans will re-take the Senate in November. As we wrote in April, no state gains more than Alabama if Republicans take the majority.
But let’s look out a little further than that and start thinking about 2016. After all, if Republicans really want a wholesale repeal of ObamaCare, they’re going to need control of the White House to pull it off.
TheRun2016, a U.S. News & World Report blog helmed by Yellowhammer friend and former contributor David Catanese, ranks the current potential Republican field like this:
Tier 1: (% chance they’ll run)
1. Rand Paul (85%)
2. Chris Christie (80%)
3. Paul Ryan (45%)
4. Mike Huckabee (40%)
Tier 2:
5. Jeb Bush (40%)
6. Marco Rubio (80%)
7. Ted Cruz (55%)
8. Scott Walker (60%)
9. Bobby Jindal (75%)
10. Rick Perry (75%)
11. Rick Santorum (70%)
12. Mike Pence (55%)
Every potential candidate would have their own unique challenges to overcome.
Is Paul too much of an isolationist? Can Christie overcome “Bridgegate”? Can Cruz expand his support outside of his Tea Party base? Can Perry make people forget his “oops” moment? Can Bush win over the conservative base? …Just to name a few.
2016 may seem like a long way off, but in reality, the wheels of a presidential campaign are already turning for some of these guys. And once we get past November, the jockeying will really begin.
So a couple of years out, who’s got your early support?
Chose a candidate in the survey below (click “done” to submit your choice), then let us know in the comment section why they’ve got your support right now.
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Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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