Which potential candidates will get cabinet positions?

[daveosupremo]

Each of the potential candidates have strengths and weaknesses. Of the commonly mentioned potential candidates, who are likely to get looked at to fill cabinet positions if they choose not to run, or don't get the nomination?

[NHLiberal]

I could see Jeb Bush as Secretary of Education if he shifts on common core or if a pro-common core Republican President is elected (not sure if any of these exist in the field?)

Peter King as Secretary of Homeland Security in a Christie or really any somewhat hawkish/non-Rand Paul Republican administration wouldn't surprise me.

Mitt Romney as Secretary of the Treasury or (more likely) Commerce is also a possibility if he's willing to take the job. Maybe Portman in one of these positions?

If Scott Walker loses reelection or flounders so badly in 2016 to the point that another presidential run would be off the cards, I could see him as Secretary of Labor if a Republican President wants to send a strong anti-union message.

Bobby Jindal in HHS would make sense, and he won't really have anything else to do. Kelly Ayotte as AG maybe, especially if she loses reelection in NH.

I could see Rick Perry in some sort of cabinet position but I'm not sure where. Mayyybe John Bolton as Secretary of State in a Christie administration, but that might be a bit too aggressive.



But, most cabinets usually only take a few Governors/members of Congress and end up being a lot of people we haven't heard of.

[Mr. Smith]

I could see Schweitzer becoming Secretary of the Interior, Sanders as Secretary of the Treasury [to appease the liberal base], and O'Malley...not sure where O'Malley would go? Health? Education?

But seriously no mention of the potential Clinton challengers in a Clinton presidency?

[Maxwell]

Jeb Bush as Secretary of Education under Christie.

Bobby Jindal as HHS under any of them or Kelly Ayotte as AG under Christie.

As for Dems, I could see Andrew Cuomo in a Clinton administration somewhere, maybe Attorney General or HUD.

[Stranger in a strange land]

I could see Rick Perry in some sort of cabinet position but I'm not sure where. Mayyybe John Bolton as Secretary of State in a Christie administration, but that might be a bit too aggressive.

Perry as Secretary of Commerce would be hilarious (leading the agency he forgot he wanted to eliminate), but I can't think of any good reason a Republican president would want him in the cabinet.

Bolton would have a hard time getting confirmed, even with a Republican Senate.

[Vega]

I could see Jeb Bush as Secretary of Education if he shifts on common core or if a pro-common core Republican President is elected (not sure if any of these exist in the field?)

Peter King as Secretary of Homeland Security in a Christie or really any somewhat hawkish/non-Rand Paul Republican administration wouldn't surprise me.

Mitt Romney as Secretary of the Treasury or (more likely) Commerce is also a possibility if he's willing to take the job. Maybe Portman in one of these positions?

If Scott Walker loses reelection or flounders so badly in 2016 to the point that another presidential run would be off the cards, I could see him as Secretary of Labor if a Republican President wants to send a strong anti-union message.

Bobby Jindal in HHS would make sense, and he won't really have anything else to do. Kelly Ayotte as AG maybe, especially if she loses reelection in NH.

I could see Rick Perry in some sort of cabinet position but I'm not sure where. Mayyybe John Bolton as Secretary of State in a Christie administration, but that might be a bit too aggressive.



But, most cabinets usually only take a few Governors/members of Congress and end up being a lot of people we haven't heard of.

Yeah, I agree with you on the last count.

Maybe it's just me, but right now, I can't see any of these guys taking cabinet posts. Especially Jeb Bush as Secretary of Education. Normally once you enter the cabinet, it kinda means your political days are nearing an end. There are exceptions, like obviously Hillary Clinton, though.

[Mister Mets]

For the Democrats, it would be the people who didn't run against Hillary. Bill gave posts to prominent Democrats who didn't run in 1992 (VP for Gore, Secretary of Commerce for Bentsen, offered Mario Cuomo the Supreme Court) and nada for the Democrats who sought the nomination.

I could see Biden offered Secretary of State as an interesting conclusion to his career.
Cuomo's ethics issues would be problematic.
Hickenlooper's science background makes him a potential Secretary of Energy.

On the Republican side, Romney's an obvious side for Commerce or Treasury.
Condoleeza Rice could be an interesting Secretary of Defense.
Secretary of Education is an obvious choice for Jeb.

[NHLiberal]

Secretary of Education is an obvious choice for Jeb.

Except what Republican with potential to be elected in 2016 supports the common core, besides Jeb? That seems to be a disagreement big enough to preclude him from this position.

[GOON]

Cruz, Kucinich, and Carson will get cabinet positions if Rand is elected

I could see that, especially Cruz as potentially the Attorney General.  If he doesn't fill that post in a Rand Paul administration, I could definitely see him choosing Ken Cuccinelli for the job.