The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread

[Miles]

Perry was in Spartanburg discussing how Governors make the best presidents.

[Mr. Morden]

Warren again says she won't run in 2016, in the clearest statement she's made since taking office in the Senate:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/12/04/elizabeth-warren-says-presidential-run-pledge-serve-out-term/885Zfu8Su0BEtAo5G0pYtL/story.html

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[Mr. Morden]

Paul to visit Michigan:

http://therun2016.com/pauls-plan-save-detroit/

[Mr. Morden]

More on Paul's wife Kelly being skeptical of a presidential run by Rand:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/192348-paul-attempts-to-persuade-wife-on-2016-run

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Also, some Iowa pastors are trying to encourage Huckabee to run:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/12/06/iowa-pastors-huckabee-meeting/3888849/

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[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

In an attempt to persuade the reactionaries/authoritarian wing of his party, Christie says no to bill expanding medical marijuana program

[IceSpear]

Does anyone besides 80 year old grandmas who grew up watching "Reefer Madness" actually care about the marijuana issue? Then again, 80 year old grandmas are an important Republican demographic.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Does anyone besides 80 year old grandmas who grew up watching "Reefer Madness" actually care about the marijuana issue? Then again, 80 year old grandmas are an important Republican demographic.

I think that Christie could alienate quite a few voters with this one, especially now that more states are legalizing/decriminalizing it and it will be an issue in 2016.  I've yet to see a poll that shows a majority of people actually opposed to marijuana legalization (even Louisianans support it), and if Christie lets his cruelty on this issue overshadow his positive traits while the Democrats move toward a neutral/states' rights position by the primaries, I'd expect quite a few voters to swing to Hillary.  This will certainly hurt him with young voters and he'll lose ground in states like Colorado.

At least, that's what I hope will happen.

[IceSpear]

Yeah, I just don't understand his end game. I mean, is there really a group of people, even within the Republican Party, that would actually think "wow, Christie's against medical marijuana, good for him!". Maybe tobacco lobbyists?

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Yeah, I just don't understand his end game. I mean, is there really a group of people, even within the Republican Party, that would actually think "wow, Christie's against medical marijuana, good for him!". Maybe tobacco lobbyists?

"Think of the children" hockey moms, but they're not as big a demographic as they used to be.

[RogueBeaver]

Ready for Hillary (RFH) is seeking to improve female outreach. As the author points out, RFH is a shadow campaign minus policy shop. Hillary's almost certainly running...

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/08/rand-paul-2016_n_4409188.html

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[Mr. Morden]

More from Paul on the toll on his family:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/12/paul-ordeal-to-be-in-public-life-179101.html?hp=l18

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[Mr. Morden]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/andrew-cuomo-2016-100889.html?hp=f2

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However:

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[Lief 🗽]

There's been an avalanche of glowing profiles on Gillibrand and how hard-working/influential she is in the last few days:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/12/16/131216fa_fact_osnos
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/07/kirsten-gillibrand_n_4400016.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/us/politics/new-yorks-junior-senator-doggedly-refusing-to-play-the-part.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/us/politics/new-yorks-junior-senator-doggedly-refusing-to-play-the-part.html (from Nov 20th)

[Mr. Morden]

Ron Paul thinks his son will "probably" run in 2016:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/09/ron-paul-rand-probably-will-run-in-2016/

Scott Brown, in New Hampshire, is possibly testing the waters for a Senate run, or possibly testing the waters for a presidential run:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/12/scott-brown-not-taking-presidential-run-off-the-table/

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You don't think you ever said you were thinking about running for president, Scott?  I think your memory is fading:

http://therun2016.com/the-third-tier-emerges-without-the-evasion/

[Mr. Morden]

Herman Cain says that the RNC is ignoring black presidential candidates; suggests he might run again:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/herman-cain-gop-has-branding-problem-potential-2016-candidates-all-white/

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[IceSpear]

Herman Cain says that the RNC is ignoring black presidential candidates; suggests he might run again:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/herman-cain-gop-has-branding-problem-potential-2016-candidates-all-white/

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LOL yes!

We've got Perry, Santorum, and Cain. Now we just need Bachmann and Gingrich and the gang's all here!

[NewYorkExpress]

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/12/paul_ryan_budget_deal_it_raises_fees_but_not_taxes.html

Slate Article on the Budget Deal which of course was co-introduced by Paul Ryan...

[Mr. Morden]

Rubio just took a trip to the UK, and is talking foreign policy:

link

[RogueBeaver]

Hillary reassures Wall Street that she'll shield them from Warrenism. The article also passively mentions certain Pubs, but the only ones they like thus far are Christie and Jeb. Implicitly says that they don't take Rubio seriously after his amnesty clusterfark.

[RogueBeaver]

Ryan takes a public shot at Rubio: "Read the bill and get back to me. People are going to do what they need to do. Look, in the minority you don't have the burden of governing." "I thought it was a little strange. It is what it is." A few months ago Ryanworld leaked that they didn't take Rubio seriously because of immigration, now "not a serious person" from Ryan himself. In the event they share a debate stage I assume Ryan would use zingers to make the same point. Maybe even copying Tsongas' Panderbear? Say what you will about Ryan's likelihood of entry (definitely below 50 for now IMO) but he, Walker and Rand are easily the Pubs' best intraparty navigators.

[RogueBeaver]

More Ryan mixed signals.[/url]

[Mr. Morden]

More Ryan mixed signals.[/url]

The relevant quote:

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[Mr. Morden]

Huckabee is set to embark on a "nationwide pastors speaking tour":

http://therun2016.com/huckabee-ramps-set-tour-pastor-events/

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[Mr. Morden]

Huckabee in Arkansas:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/us/politics/huckabee-open-to-joining-2016-gop-presidential-field.html?hpw&rref=politics&_r=0

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This is a constant theme with Huck.  He is very annoyed that the national media doesn't treat him as "serious", and wants to be taken seriously.  He seems to want that more than he wants to be president!