Tom Cotton

[IceSpear]

With Cotton looking set to win in Arkansas, who else agrees he's almost certainly going to run for president? Probably not in 2016 (despite being an egomaniac I don't think even he would dare to run after a single year in the Senate), but I could definitely see him as the GOP frontrunner in 2020 assuming Hillary wins. Thoughts?

[Maxwell]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

[RogueBeaver]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

^^
I think Cotton is a strong contender for the bottom of the ticket in 2016 and 2020.

[JRP1994]

Gardner/Cotton 2024, assuming both are re-elected to the Senate?

[BaconBacon96]

A Gardner vs. Cotton primary wouldn't surprise me actually.

[morgieb]

Will happen IMO. 2016 is too early, but 2020 looks good for him running. Only risk is that he's a neocon, I think the Republican party will move away from that.

[Person Man]

Will happen IMO. 2016 is too early, but 2020 looks good for him running. Only risk is that he's a neocon, I think the Republican party will move away from that.

...or towards it, depending on what happens with ISIS.

I definitely think Gardner or Cotton could be on the bottom of the ticket in 2016.

[Maxwell]

Gardner is too far out of step with the party on immigration for the 2016 election, and Cotton doesn't add anything electorally, so I doubt either of them is on the ticket in 2016. Plus, with both of them as first term senators, I find it exceedingly unlikely. Cotton is young enough that he could easily wait until 2024, which won't be a re-election year for him in the senate, and will likely be an election year with no incumbent to beat.

As is Gardner, who in 2024 would only be 50 years old. By then, the GOP will probably be closer to Gardner's immigration position than what they are today. Plus, Cotton is stiff as a block of wood.

[henster]

Cotton is way too conservative to be electable.

[Suburbia]

Cotton is way too conservative to be electable.

Somewhat, but he's telegenic on TV somewhat.

[Dixie Reborn]

Gardner is too far out of step with the party on immigration for the 2016 election, and Cotton doesn't add anything electorally, so I doubt either of them is on the ticket in 2016. Plus, with both of them as first term senators, I find it exceedingly unlikely. Cotton is young enough that he could easily wait until 2024, which won't be a re-election year for him in the senate, and will likely be an election year with no incumbent to beat.

What exactly is Gardner's position on immigration?

[Person Man]

Gardner is too far out of step with the party on immigration for the 2016 election, and Cotton doesn't add anything electorally, so I doubt either of them is on the ticket in 2016. Plus, with both of them as first term senators, I find it exceedingly unlikely. Cotton is young enough that he could easily wait until 2024, which won't be a re-election year for him in the senate, and will likely be an election year with no incumbent to beat.

What exactly is Gardner's position on immigration?

His voting record is in more or less lockstep, but he has made Bush-like campaign promises on it very much the way he tried to stop talking about abortion and gay marriage.

[IceSpear]

This is a presidential election trend?

[Mr. Morden]

This is a presidential election trend?

See the board description on the front page: "Discussions of Future Elections"….since this is about 2020 or beyond.

[GLPman]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

What makes Gardner a strong(er) candidate?

[Person Man]

Someday, sure. I think Gardner will be a far stronger candidate though.

What makes Gardner a strong(er) candidate?

Well, he basically was elected in 2010 as a culture warrior and has since represented Greeley and the eastern plains as a culture warrior. At this point, he is 3 points ahead against a solid incumbent senator by successfully denying he is a culture warrior yet still being overtly committed to being one. Anyone who can pull off what Gardner is pulling off is at least VP material. Then again, this could just be because Udall is "trying to hard".  But even then, he was just known as someone who was very smooth in a state where the Republican bench has a reputation of being very awkward.

Tom Cotton is just helping solidify a red state while Gardner is doing something much more impressive.

Gardner was also Congressman for 4 years before becoming a Senator. Obama was a first term senator when he became president, right? Though, he will be campaigning in his second instead of third and forth year. He'd definitely be a good choice. He can triangulate, fire up the base and is from a state Republicans need.   

[henster]

I think Personhood will haunt Gardner, he is only winning because of the dynamics of this year and the fact Udall is running a bad campaign.

[Mister Mets]

Cotton and Gardner are rather similar in age and political experience. Assuming both become Senators, it won't matter that Gardner served one more term in the House.

Cotton's advantage is his background. He's a military guy with a JD from Harvard. That's appealing on a ticket.

Gardner's advantage is that he comes from a valuable swing state.

Whether either has a career outside the Senate may come down to what they do in the office, and whether they're able to become national figures. Compare Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Kelly Ayotte to their fellow Republicans elected in 2010 like Pat Toomey, Jon Boozman, John Hoeven and Ron Johnson.

[Suburbia]

Cotton could make political waves if he becomes Senator, will he be a bland backbencher or will he be like a Cruz and make news.

[Person Man]

Cotton could make political waves if he becomes Senator, will he be a bland backbencher or will he be like a Cruz and make news.

The next year will be indicative of what either one of these guys wants to do. There were promising senators that haven't really made waves. Ayotte and Johnson come to mind.

[moderatevoter]

Johnson I agree with, but Ayotte has certainly had a higher profile -- especially since the Shutdown.

[Person Man]

Johnson I agree with, but Ayotte has certainly had a higher profile -- especially since the Shutdown.

She's definitely VP material, too.

[Lincoln Republican]

He has lots of time, so 2020 at the earliest, and if a popular incumbent President seeks reelection in 2020, he could decide 2024 is better for him.

With a good Senate record, he could be established as a very serious contender.

[Emperor Charles V]

I could see a Rubio/Cotton, a Sandoval/Cotton, a Paul/Cotton ticket or an Ayotte/Cotton ticket (and also the first four except with Gardner on the bottom instead of Cotton) in 2012 assuming Clinton (or another Democrat) wins in 2016.