The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread

[RogueBeaver]

The obvious question is why she'd be OK with him doing all this preliminary work and being so open about considering a run. If she was adamantly or completely opposed, like Cheri Daniels was, would Rand really have been doing this stuff for the past year?

[Mr. Morden]

The obvious question is why she'd be OK with him doing all this preliminary work and being so open about considering a run. If she was adamantly or completely opposed, like Cheri Daniels was, would Rand really have been doing this stuff for the past year?

I don't think she *is* "adamantly or completely opposed".  Just highly skeptical.  Nothing is lost by him publicly toying with the idea of running.  He might as well do that, even if he's not going to end up running in the end.  In fact, publicly toying with the possibility of running gets him more national media exposure, and allows him to promote his issues more effectively.

[Mr. Morden]

John Thune, who six months ago sounded very skeptical of a future run for president, now at least says that he wouldn't "rule it out":

link

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[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Much of this stuff:

http://therun2016.com/cruz-paul-cant-elected-president/

was mentioned in the Cruz vs. Paul thread, but therun2016 follows up with this:

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This was suggested in the Vogue story back in September:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=164982.msg3872928#msg3872928

that Paul's wife Kelley doesn't sound too excited about him running for president.

Weird, in the past Kelley Paul has been very, very supportive of a possible Paul run. It could be a decoy to keep the spotlight off of Paul.

[Blue3]

Schumer endorses Hillary for 2016:

http://news.yahoo.com/sen-chuck-schumer-endorses-clinton-president-014656859--election.html

[IceSpear]

John Thune, who six months ago sounded very skeptical of a future run for president, now at least says that he wouldn't "rule it out":

link

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Thune is about as close to "generic Republican" as you can get, meaning he'd likely be a strong candidate.

[Mr. Morden]

John Thune, who six months ago sounded very skeptical of a future run for president, now at least says that he wouldn't "rule it out":

link

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Thune is about as close to "generic Republican" as you can get, meaning he'd likely be a strong candidate.

2012 would have been a good year for him to run, as there was a big opening for any remotely competent "not Romney" in the GOP primary field.  Thune teased a run back then, but decided not to go for it.  The speculation at the time was that this was a sign that he was more interested in climbing the Senate leadership ladder than making a run for president.  My guess is that that's still operative.  I'd still guess that he's more interested in climbing the Senate leadership ladder than running for president, but we'll have to wait and see.

[RogueBeaver]

Cillizza's ranking: Christie, Rand, Cruz, Walker. Says that he's hearing conflicting things about Ryan, who's apparently considerably dialed back his interest from September, so is now ranked at #9.

[Mr. Morden]

Martinez is campaigning with Christie in New Jersey on Monday, the day before the election:

link

[Mr. Morden]

Going back to Paul, and whether his wife wants him to run, here's what he said today:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/3/sen-rand-paul-no-decision-yet-presidential-run-201/

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[RogueBeaver]

Costa said on Twitter that Christie will travel to early states in preparation for a run.

[RogueBeaver]

Here's the Costa piece on Christie.

[RogueBeaver]

Hollywood is Ready for Hillary.

[Mr. Morden]

After visiting Iowa yesterday, Perry now has a scheduled appearance in South Carolina next month, headlining a Dec. 3rd fundraising dinner for the SC GOP:

http://www.msnbc.com/the-daily-rundown/perry-stokes-2016-flames

[IceSpear]

Is Perry running again just to give the comedians more material?

[Mr. Morden]

Julian Castro says he's not running for president or vice president in 2016:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/11/09/julian-castro-san-antonio-mayor-rules-out-2016-presidential-bid/

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[Mr. Morden]

Palin was in Iowa for the Faith & Freedom Coalition's fall fundraiser last night.  She compared the federal debt to slavery:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131109/NEWS09/131109029/1056/news05?nclick_check=1

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[Mr. Morden]

Walker will meet with some top GOP donors in New York City on Nov. 18th:

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/scott-walker-new-york-99460.html

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/10/christie-new-jersey-2016-presidential-governor/3489137/

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[RogueBeaver]

NYT tells us what we know: Christie isn't popular with the conservative grassroots.

[Likely Voter]

I think Rick Perry knows he is the perfect GOP candidate. Good-looking conservative evangelical white male governor from southern state with low unemployment a business-friendly reputation and a history of standing up to Obama and the Fed gov. That is why the second he announced in 2012 he was the front-runner, even though it was the same weekend that Bachmann won the IA straw poll. And he also knows that the GOP usually nominates someone on their second attempt. So in theory he is set to win.

As for that whole national joke for seeming like an idiot thing, he has that sorted...with new hipster glasses!
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115185/rick-perrys-glasses-make-him-look-smarter

...problem solved!

[Mr. Morden]

Maybe if Perry wears the glasses, people won't recognize that it's him, and they won't hold 2012 against him.  It'll be like Clark Kent / Superman, only this is where you want to be the guy with the glasses.

He should run as Rick Parry (with an "a"), and hope that people don't associate him with the former governor of Texas.

[Likely Voter]

Speaking of Perry (and in case you had any doubt he was running), here he is visiting an gunmaker in Iowa this week



Smart, sophisticated, heavily armed...Rick Perry 2016!

[Miles]

Christie will be in SC this cycle helping Graham.

[RogueBeaver]

How Pubs use social media.

An update on Pub activity in Iowa. Branstad's birthday bash with Ryan as keynoter will be Saturday.