The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread (Part 2)

[Joe Biden 2020]

Huckabee says he won't make his decision until late spring 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/mikehuckabee/posts/10152701857157869

CNN Politics reports he will end his show on Fox News to possibly run.

[Joe Biden 2020]

The Onion has an exclusive story on Jindal's cold feet:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/bobby-jindal-not-sure-he-willing-to-put-family-thr,37864/

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I'm curious as to why he said two month?  I know he is being realistic, but I'm surprised he's not any more optimistic than that.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Oh, wait, that's the Onion...  Dadgummit...

[Joe Biden 2020]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/02/02/pataki-exploring-2016-white-house-run/?cmpid=cmty_twitter_fn

Pataki exploring 2016 run. He has opened a PAC.

lol. Why on earth would he do that?

Don't worry, he'll drop out after Iowa.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Carson forms exploratory committee.

Is this a done deal?  Last time we thought we had an exploratory committee by Mr. Carson, the media walked it back saying it wasn't an exploratory committee.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Carson forms exploratory committee.

Is this a done deal?  Last time we thought we had an exploratory committee by Mr. Carson, the media walked it back saying it wasn't an exploratory committee.

Aren't you thinking of Graham rather than Carson?

Oh yeah, that's right, it was Lindsey Graham.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Hillary may announce in early spring.

I doubt it now

LOL, you can't be serious.

Please, PLEASE take off the fanboy glasses for one second. She violated a clear cut State Department rule. She will at least have to reconsider the ramifications of such, especially when non-FOX news stations are covering it.

This isn't the thread to debate the merits of the "scandal". The hilarious part was you suggesting it would cause her to not run when that's obviously not going to happen. She's already in in all but name.

I agree with IceSpear.  This scandal may hurt, but it won't keep her from running.

[Joe Biden 2020]

So last month, Huckabee actually signed a new deal as a pitchman for a "diabetes solution kit", something that's highly unusual for a presidential candidate, or pseudo-presidential candidate:

Mike Huckabee Rips ‘Mainstream Medical Community’ in Endorsement for ‘Diabetes Solution Kit’

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Then, I question his seriousness as a candidate.  Of course, after his recent gaffes, he probably should to...

[Joe Biden 2020]

Okay. Since I'm wrong, let me ask. Which of Hillary's policies are you democrats excited for? Or is it the fact that she's your only hope?

She supports generic Democratic policies while having an immense wealth of experience, a knowledge of how Washington works, and a generally ballsy, get-things-done persona. There is also, of course, the probable event that a Republican is elected if she is not nominated, but that's certainly not the main reason she has gained so much support.

A Republican is likely to be elected even if she is nominated.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Sounds like we'll get a tidal wave of official announcements all through April.  It's about time.

[Joe Biden 2020]

A draft Joe Biden 2016 website is up:

http://runbidenrun.com/

He has a new fetish of rubbing ladies' shoulders with their husbands present, so he'd be wise to sit this one out...  The media and the GOP would eat him alive.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Everybody has been visiting Iowa, New Hampshire, and now Nevada.  Have there been any publicized visits to South Carolina or have they already conceded it to Lindsey Graham?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Must have missed those..  Thanks.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Confirmed: Rubio announcing April 13.

So, we've got Rand Paul on April 7 and Marco Rubio on April 13.  Who would be next after Rubio?

[Joe Biden 2020]

It looks like we're about to get some action.  Let the mud-slinging and trash-talking begin!

[Joe Biden 2020]

Watts endorsing Rand.

That surprises me.

It surprises me, too.  I didn't think JC Watts was a Libertarian-Republican.  I thought he would have endorsed someone like Scott Walker.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Mary Pat Christie has quit her Wall Street job because her husband's announcement is imminent.

And the Christie comeback begins.

Go Christie Go!!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

they would run for the same reason that someone like Lindsay Graham is running, to raise their profile and hopes to get into the cabinet.

But what does that have to do with being "talked into it", by the party leadership?  What is the party leadership going to say to them to convince them?  Also, I think you're overestimating the extent to which the party leadership cares about this sort of thing.  Big $ donors care more about who runs than Priebus does, I think.  And I don't think big $ donors care that much about whether they candidates they back are men or women.

you are taking my comment too seriously. My point was along the lines of 'cant the GOP come up with anyone better than Carly Fiorina' I am fully aware of the limitations of the Preibus.

Every one of the Republicans, with the exception of Rick Perry, are more serious and better candidates than Fiorina.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Pence update:

http://wane.com/2015/05/01/governor-pence-talks-highlights-of-2015-legislative-session/

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In short, Pence is not running.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bolton is announcing his decision tomorrrow. He'll do it online, with a conference call soon to follow.

His announcement feels like a non-event to me.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Any word on when Gov. Walker plans to announce?

[Joe Biden 2020]

June 4 is Perry's announcement date.

Why does Perry have this uncontrollable compulsion for self humiliation? And just who is going to give him any money this time?

The former governor doesn't have anything else to do apparently.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Chafee is the biggest joke candidate in the history of joke candidates. Your average county board member has more gravitas than him. It's remarkable he's ever been elected to anything.

Surely at least one of Carly Fiornia, Donald Trump, or Ben Carson is more of a joke.

Carson is not really a joke candidate. The guy is LEADING in GA. Even Trump is polling fifth or so in New Hampshire. Fiorina is the only one of those three who appears to be a complete joke, but even she would get the nomination before that governor from New York with like 12% name recognition. What was his name again? Georgina Pataka or something?

Just because a guy has a lot of support doesn't mean he isn't a joke candidate. How many joke candidate where the frontrunner at some point in 2012?

I define a joke candidate as someone who is essentially hopeless in terms of getting the nomination, not someone who is simply inexperienced or unelectable in the GE. Bachmann in say, November 2011, would have qualified. She wouldn't have qualified in august when she was winning the ames straw poll. Carson may qualify in the future, but he doesn't for now.

And Ben Carson is a joke candidate. Even if he won a primary, he would be slaughtered with press and attack ads and would not even get close to the nomination.

When does GA fall in the primary calendar for 2016?  I'm wondering if Carson would even make it that far?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I find it amusing that Webb has been in an exploratory committee for like 8 months. Is he trying to set a record?

Yeah, when (and if) is he going to take the next step?  Granted he has no chance, but still.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Graham has already said that he'll make an announcement on his 2016 plans on June 1st.  Well, he's just announced that he's retiring from the Air Force Reserve, effective June 1st:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/graham-to-exit-air-force-reserves-118360.html?hp=b1_l2

That makes it sound like Graham is going to run.  However, should be noted that he was already due to retire in July (because of turning 60), so this only accelerates that timeline a little.

He's only 60?  Seems like he's been around forever...