Tom Cotton

[Person Man]

Will happen IMO. 2016 is too early, but 2020 looks good for him running. Only risk is that he's a neocon, I think the Republican party will move away from that.

...or towards it, depending on what happens with ISIS.

I definitely think Gardner or Cotton could be on the bottom of the ticket in 2016.

[Person Man]

Gardner is too far out of step with the party on immigration for the 2016 election, and Cotton doesn't add anything electorally, so I doubt either of them is on the ticket in 2016. Plus, with both of them as first term senators, I find it exceedingly unlikely. Cotton is young enough that he could easily wait until 2024, which won't be a re-election year for him in the senate, and will likely be an election year with no incumbent to beat.

What exactly is Gardner's position on immigration?

His voting record is in more or less lockstep, but he has made Bush-like campaign promises on it very much the way he tried to stop talking about abortion and gay marriage.

[Person Man]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

What makes Gardner a strong(er) candidate?

Well, he basically was elected in 2010 as a culture warrior and has since represented Greeley and the eastern plains as a culture warrior. At this point, he is 3 points ahead against a solid incumbent senator by successfully denying he is a culture warrior yet still being overtly committed to being one. Anyone who can pull off what Gardner is pulling off is at least VP material. Then again, this could just be because Udall is "trying to hard".  But even then, he was just known as someone who was very smooth in a state where the Republican bench has a reputation of being very awkward.

Tom Cotton is just helping solidify a red state while Gardner is doing something much more impressive.

Gardner was also Congressman for 4 years before becoming a Senator. Obama was a first term senator when he became president, right? Though, he will be campaigning in his second instead of third and forth year. He'd definitely be a good choice. He can triangulate, fire up the base and is from a state Republicans need.   

[Person Man]

Cotton could make political waves if he becomes Senator, will he be a bland backbencher or will he be like a Cruz and make news.

The next year will be indicative of what either one of these guys wants to do. There were promising senators that haven't really made waves. Ayotte and Johnson come to mind.

[Person Man]

Johnson I agree with, but Ayotte has certainly had a higher profile -- especially since the Shutdown.

She's definitely VP material, too.