2012/2016 Candidates

[TheresNoMoney]

Who do you think the top candidates will be for each party in 2012/2016?

For the Democrats, I think Montana governor Brian Schweitzer will be towards the top of the list. I also think we will have 3 or 4 other very strong candidates.

For the Republicans, I think Tim Pawlenty will be at the top of the list.

[PBrunsel]

Governor Jim Nussle of Iowa for the Republicans.

[nick]

Democrats:

Schweitzer, Obama, Warner, Spitzer...

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Schweitzer, Obama, Warner, Spitzer...

Yeah

[Frodo]

Democrats
-Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (for 2012), New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (if he wins next year -in which case, he will be the main candidate for 2016 once he completes two terms, if he wins them),
and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2016.

Republicans
-South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.  i can't think of anymore at this time.

[nick]

Republicans:

Santorum, Nussle, Sanford, Pawlenty, Bush

[TheresNoMoney]

Democrats:

Schweitzer, Obama, Warner, Spitzer...

Yep, I have Spitzer and Obama on my list as well. I have two others you didn't mention, though.

Warner will hopefully be our 2008 candidate.

[nick]

Warner will hopefully be our 2008 candidate.

Hopefully, but if he fails to receive the nomination... He can run for governor again in 2009, and run for President in 2012/2016. 

[Vasall des Midas]

2012: Whoever wins in 2008.
2016: Whoever wins in 2012, or whoever was vice president from 2008 to 2016.

[BushKenya]

Some of these may be longshot names, but I think they are a possibility that cannot be ruled out.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)
Gov. Brad Henry (D-OK) (he could be 2012, 2016, or 2020, if he decides to run, which I think he should, unless he's another Bill Clinton or John Kennedy, as he's only 42 in 2005)
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) (especially if he unseats Rep Sen. Elizabeth Dole)

Fmr. Rep. JC Watts (R-OK)
Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL)
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID)
Fmr. Gov. Frank Keating (R-OK) (Highly doubtful, as he became increasingly unpopular in his last 2 or 3 years as Oklahoma Governor, especially among voters from center-right to the left)

[MODU]

I can't think that far.  Why not get through 2008 first, and then see how the political climate changes? 

[Democratic Hawk]

2012: Whoever wins in 2008.
2016: Whoever wins in 2012, or whoever was vice president from 2008 to 2016.

Ditto

Dave

[Frodo]

2016
Democrat
Obama
Spitzer
Villaraigosa

i think we are more likely to see Villaraigosa run for president in either 2020 or 2024 (assuming in your scenario here that he wins two terms as Los Angeles mayor).  seriously, i can't see a big-city mayor winning his party's nomination, let alone the presidency without having run for and won higher office beforehand.  once he runs for and wins two terms as California governor -if he completes his two terms as LA mayor, should he win them- only then can he be considered as a viable candidate for president. 

[Ben Meyers]

I think that very soon, George P. Bush, Jeb's son, will enter politics.  He will be an extremely good candidate, being part-Hispanic and charismatic.

I think that he could be a candidate, if not for President then for Governor or Senator, by 2012, and be a presidential candidate by 2016 or 2020.

[AuH2O]

I'm not impressed by many of these suggestions.

Not that I'm overflowing with ideas of my own, because it would take more thinking than I currently am willing to commit. However, some of these are just downright bad. Spitzer? LOL maybe for people that haven't seen him on TV. I understand why New Yorkers like him but if you think he can win in the Midwest, crack would be a mild drug for you.

Same for the stupid mayor-elect of LA. And a 75-year old former Governor of Idaho? uhhhh

2012, like some folks have said, is already half-solved by who wins in 2008-- and who runs.

Obama is certainly a possibility on the Dem side if Hillary loses... I really don't believe Schweitzer will ever be on a national ticket. Warner's only shot is '08 because by '12 he's old news.

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for Gov. Phill Kline (KS), Gov. Ralph Reed (GA), Gov. JD Hayworth (AZ), Sen. David Vitter (LA), among others.

[TheresNoMoney]

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for Gov. Phill Kline (KS), Gov. Ralph Reed (GA),

Ralph Reed? The founder fo the Christian Coalition?

Isn't he currently being brought up on charges?

[AuH2O]

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for Gov. Phill Kline (KS), Gov. Ralph Reed (GA),

Ralph Reed? The founder fo the Christian Coalition?

Isn't he currently being brought up on charges?

lol

No, he's running for Lt. Gov. of Georgia.

[TheresNoMoney]

Not that I'm overflowing with ideas of my own, because it would take more thinking than I currently am willing to commit. However, some of these are just downright bad. Spitzer? LOL maybe for people that haven't seen him on TV.

I think he's great on TV. Are you referring to his baldness?

[No more McShame]

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for ... Gov. JD Hayworth (AZ),

Like the sound of thet

[MODU]

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for ... Gov. JD Hayworth (AZ),

Like the sound of thet

And here I thought he was talking about JD Hogg.  HAHAHA

[Hitchabrut]

Coleman

[MODU]

Coleman

Do you mean former California Governor candidate Gary Coleman? 

[TheWildCard]

I think Thune could be a condidate in 2020 if he does well in the future and people remember that he was a giant killer.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

On the GOP side, for 2016, look out for Gov. Phill Kline (KS), Gov. Ralph Reed (GA), Gov. JD Hayworth (AZ)

Now this might be the best Goldie quote of them all.

[Big DaddyTX]

Sadly, it's still possible for JD Hayworth to make a comeback in 2010 in a run for Governor.