Which names do you see being tossed around as VP possibilities in 2016?

[ShadowRocket]

Obviously it depends primarily on who the eventual nominee for both parties end up being, but who do see being suggested as running mates?

For the Democrats, assuming he's elected to the Senate in November, I expect Tim Kaine to be a finalist again. If he can get elected Governor in 2014, I bet Julian Castro's name will be tossed around. Klobuchar and Gillibrand seem like likely possibilities.

For the Republicans, Rubio's name will floated again unless he's the nominee. His name was thrown around a lot in '08 and '12 and it never went anywhere, but I could see 2016 being the year where Thune finally ends up as real contender for the job. As I see him as someone that could provide a good balance to somebody like Christie or Rubio.

[Skill and Chance]

For the GOP, Rubio and Martinez will factor prominently if one of them isn't at the top of the ticket.  Cruz would be a good option assuming he wins, but he doesn't help in an important state like the other two.  If it's Rubio or Martinez at the top, a Southerner like McDonnell or McCrory would be a good choice.

For the Dems, I would think Klobuchar would be top tier, as well as Warner, Schweitzer, Hagan or even Maggie Hassan if they win their next elections.  Warner is far more likely than Kaine to be on the ticket.  He's more popular and less partisan.  Castro's time hasn't come yet and I can't see him winning TX in 2014, especially if Obama is still president.

If there is a woman on one ticket, there will almost certainly be a woman added to the other ticket as well.

[Mr. Morden]

As I've said before, the Democratic ticket will almost certainly have one woman on it.  So if a man is the presidential nominee, he'll pick a woman as his running mate.....with Gillibrand and Klobuchar being the most obvious choices, but other names will be floated as well.  Kaine is also a likely option if the presidential nominee is a woman and is picking a man.

On the GOP side, I don't know.  Ayotte, Portman, Rubio, and Thune will all be running for reelection.  I assume it's legal for all of them to simultaneously run for both Senate and VP, as Ryan is simultaneously running for the House and VP at the moment, but it depends on the laws in their respective states.  It's also not clear that Ayotte or Portman would want to do that, if they have credible challengers for their Senate seats.  Thune would probably have an easy time at reelection regardless.  Rubio would likely win regardless anyway as well, but it would be a bit awkward to have an MIA Senate candidate in a state as large as Florida.  I assume that Cruz and Jindal will also be considered as "diversity picks" on the short list, even if they're not really being seriously considered.

Most of the likely 2016 candidates don't have that much foreign policy experience, and such candidates often pick a running mate with such experience, a la Cheney and Biden.  But there aren't that many such good options for either party who'll be under 70 in 2016.  (Jon Huntsman as GOP VP nominee?  I doubt it.)  Maybe Susan Rice will be floated as a VP option if she's Obama's second term SoS, though I can't really see the vice presidency being offered to a non-politician.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

How about Ray Mabus?

[Donerail]

If a female must be the Democratic VP (and those are the options) then I just might vote Republican in the first Presidential election I can vote in. Aren't there any D women of Klobuchar's and Gillibrand's stature who aren't HPs?

[Pheurton Skeurto]

How about Ray Mabus?

LOL I get it

GOP: Susana Martinez, Marco Rubio, Allen West, Pat Toomey, Rand Paul
Dems: Julian Castro, Martin O'Malley, Mark Warner, Russ Feingold, Sherrod Brown