Republican most likely to win in 2016 (assuming Romney loses)

[BritishDixie]

In my opinion, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal might do the best. Although if I had to go for one I would say Rubio, due to the charisma, possible appeal to Hispanics, likeability.

Also comments are welcome for suggesting possible strategies for a Republican candidate to win.

[Cobbler]

Assuming he could win the primary, Huntsman would probably win. He can appeal to independents and Democrats, is personally likeable, has a strong record as Governor in Utah, in the private sector, as well as foreign policy experience as Ambassador.
Christie could probably pull it off too, as long as his confrontational personality doesn't start getting on voters' nerves.
Jeb would have Florida locked down, and is a solid conservative while still having an appeal to others outside of the traditional Republican electorate.
Rubio would probably be able to for the reasons listed already. Any of the others either won't run (Huckabee, Brown, Bachmann), or would have a much harder time winning, in my opinion.

[Mr. Morden]

How would Huntsman win the primary?  After Romney loses (which this scenario assumes), is the GOP really going to nominate another rich Mormon who isn't beloved by the base just four years later?

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Most likely to win the primary or general: Marco Rubio.

[Maxwell]

Chris Christie, but my hopes are for Huntsman.

[Cobbler]

How would Huntsman win the primary?  After Romney loses (which this scenario assumes), is the GOP really going to nominate another rich Mormon who isn't beloved by the base just four years later?

In the age of the Tea Party, it nominated Mitt Romney, who wasn't loved by the base, just four years after John McCain, who wasn't loved by the base. It will be about who the establishment backs. The pathway would be harder for Huntsman, as there will be other viable establishment candidates (Rubio, Christie), but I don't think it will be because he's a rich Mormon or too moderate.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Christie would be president-elect right now if he were a bit more photogenic.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Chris Christie.

How would Huntsman win the primary?  After Romney loses (which this scenario assumes), is the GOP really going to nominate another rich Mormon who isn't beloved by the base just four years later?

In the age of the Tea Party, it nominated Mitt Romney, who wasn't loved by the base, just four years after John McCain, who wasn't loved by the base. It will be about who the establishment backs. The pathway would be harder for Huntsman, as there will be other viable establishment candidates (Rubio, Christie), but I don't think it will be because he's a rich Mormon or too moderate.

I say this as a Teabagger-the Tea Party is dead and will be forgotten by 2016.

[GOP732]

Dam, Rubio and Christie seem to be the most popular 4 1/2 years out, that can only mean it will almost absolutely not be either one of them.

[Mr. Morden]

Huntsman has just joined the left-of-center Brookings Institute as a distinguished fellow:

link

He's also said "Gone are the days when the Republican Party used to put forward big, bold, visionary stuff...I think we're going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third-party movement or some alternative voice out there that can put forward new ideas.”

While I suppose it's possible that he'll change his mind, it looks like he's given up on any future bid for national office with the GOP.  At this point, if he did want to make a serious run for the 2016 nomination, he'd have to undergo a Romneyesque conversion and start pandering like mad.  I guess that's possible, but highly unlikely.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Yeah, they're not left of center.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Huntsman has just joined the left-of-center Brookings Institute as a distinguished fellow:

link

He's also said "Gone are the days when the Republican Party used to put forward big, bold, visionary stuff...I think we're going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third-party movement or some alternative voice out there that can put forward new ideas.”

While I suppose it's possible that he'll change his mind, it looks like he's given up on any future bid for national office with the GOP.  At this point, if he did want to make a serious run for the 2016 nomination, he'd have to undergo a Romneyesque conversion and start pandering like mad.  I guess that's possible, but highly unlikely.

Then again, Newt Gingrich did a lot of GOP bashing in his years off. He made the video with EVUL NANCY PELOSI and AL GORE about GLOBUL WARMIN and was still able to do reasonably well. I don't see why Huntsman couldn't. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if Huntsman switched to Independent and ran for something.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

... TRUMP sry ik i aint supposed to   do dis

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

lmao

[Xing]

None of the final three are even on this list.

[Hammy]

These sort of threads are always hilarious to look back on years later.

[Mr. Morden]

None of the final three are even on this list.

True.  However, 8 of the 12 people on this list did in fact end up running in '16.  And people say I'm crazy for already tracking the public comments of potential 2020 candidates to see who is likely to run...

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I was right about one thing-the Tea Party is dead, and the new post Tea Party right has taken over in the form of Trumpism.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

XDDDDD

[Rules for me, but not for thee]

What a bunch of Rube-ios. Also, Michelle Bachmann LOL. A Bachmann/Palin ticket would've been frickin hilarious though.

[Vosem]

I will say that even fairly late in the game -- like early 2016 -- the answers "Rubio and Christie" to the question of who the most electable in the general election are would not have been ridiculous.

The poll obviously failed to anticipate Trump or Cruz, but then neither of them are really a reasonable answer to the question posed. John Kasich almost seems like a more significant oversight.