Who is Next in Line?

[Mister Mets]

Nobody. Literally nobody emerged strong enough as an alternative to Romney to be a credible next in line figure in 2016. Everyone who was the anti-Romney essentially was just that, not a credible person to be the next in line.

Nobody from 2012 will probably be a serious contender in 2016. The simple reason is that the 2012 field was what it was because the GOP was decimated in 2006 and 2008, thus taking out top contenders who could have run in 2012.

I should note that the Democrats now have this problem.

That is a fair point.

McCain might not have won the nomination in 2008 if his opposition included Bill Frist and George Allen.

However, the list of plausible nominees who lost those cycles does seem kinda small. Aside from those two, who was there? Maybe Robert Ehlrich of Maryland.

[The_Doctor]

Re 2012.

Robert Ehrlich lost in 2006, but he was pro-choice, remember. So no go on Ehrlich. The big contenders weren't simply available. New York's Pataki was pro-choice, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't eligible, George Allen was persona non grata, Rick Santorum had lost by 18 points in 2006 (well he still ran, but eh), and Romney only avoided being scratched off the list by serving only one term as Governor of Massachusetts. Charlie Crist switched parties in 2010, and Jeb Bush was well, a Bush, a problem that continues to plague him. Hence the very weak field we ran in 2012 - a former Speaker, a defeated Senator, and a one term governor of Massachusetts. Resume wise, Rick Perry was the strongest Republican - and we already recently had a Texas Governor as President.

In short, our field sucked.

Re 2008, the field was somewhat stronger than 2012. But it wasn't that remarkable (former Senator from Tennessee, ex-New York Mayor who had been out of office since 2001, Senator from Arizona, and one term ex governor of Massachusetts and an ex-governor of Arkansas from the 1990s. And Ron Paul, who's sole significance may only be being the father of a future president of the United States).