The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread

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More Rick Perry:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/05/perry-indeed-open-to-2016-bid/

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Here's something I've been thinking with Perry: At first glance you could assume that he'll make his decision and, assuming he decides to run, will probably wait until late 2014 to announce his bid, but what if the guy actually announces late this year way before anyone else? Some of his similar statements slightly hint towards that. Talk about a long invisible primary if that were the case.

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Something interesting about Ted Cruz in this article:

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I apologize if this has been addressed, but I've heard rumblings that Paul could run for president in the other 49 states and just not put his name on the Kentucky presidential ballot and  have one of his staff or his wife appear as a placeholder for him. Would that allow him to run for both senate and president, and is that a realistic possibility?

That's one of the options he has, actually. Apparently there has also been discussion among Kentucky lawmakers to scrap the existing laws on running over there, so that may or may not transpire by the time that we get to the primaries.

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I apologize if this has been addressed, but I've heard rumblings that Paul could run for president in the other 49 states and just not put his name on the Kentucky presidential ballot and  have one of his staff or his wife appear as a placeholder for him. Would that allow him to run for both senate and president, and is that a realistic possibility?

That's one of the options he has, actually. Apparently there has also been discussion among Kentucky lawmakers to scrap the existing laws on running over there, so that may or may not transpire by the time that we get to the primaries.

But is he actually in solid enough shape in Kentucky to get away with that?  IIRC, his job approval numbers are solid, but not fantastic.  Does the Kentucky GOP love him enough to let him indulge himself like that, running for both at the same time, potentially putting the seat at risk because of his shenanigans?  Or would they pressure him to pick one or the other?  (Or even primary him with someone who's actually running for Senate full time, rather than running around the country running for president?)

That's what I can't say with absolute certainty. Although, I believe that the state GOP may be warming up to him now that he's nuanced more of his controversial views and has become a national star. It doesn't hurt that he's forged a strong alliance with leadership figures like Mitch McConnell in the Senate, who isn't popular statewide but who still has the backing of the establishment for his reelection campaign, so more lenience may be applied because of that.

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Santorum once again confirming interest in his virtually inevitable 2016 campaign.

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Rand Paul says that presidential speculation about him is good for Kentucky:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/325961-rand-paul-presidential-speculation-good-for-kentucky

Jesse Ventura again floats the possibility of running for president as an Independent in 2016, with Howard Stern as his running mate:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/30/game-over-jesse-ventura-wants-howard-stern-as-running-mate-for-2016-presidential-run/

Howard Stern has shut down the VP bid, saying to cohost Robin Quivers "I just f[inks]ing can't say no" on his show a few weeks back. I am a devoted listener, so I will keep my eyes (or ears) open for any further mention.

Looks like the two of 'em still have interest in it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMfUVnMNBwE

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Joe Scarborough is set to visit New Hampshire next month.

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Bush will decide on a run by the end of this year.

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Sanders is traveling to New Hampshire.

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Here's someone from out of left field: Bob Ehrlich, Maryland's former governor.

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Heard over word of Facebook Dennis Michael Lynch announced his run for 2016.

His announcement speech.

Given his connections to Fox, I wonder if he'll be in any debates at least on that channel.

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Count Portman out, according to Politico.