The "Who is running?" tea leaves thread

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

I have never seen as prohibitive favorite as Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side.  Most of these folks mentioned here will not run because no one, save a GOP contributor looking to sabotage the Clinton effort, would contribute to their campaign.  Except for Biden, of course; GOP sabateurs would love to see him make it tough for Hillary.

For the GOP, I see it as a contest between Rand Paul and Marco Rubio.  Watch where the money goes.  It could have been Paul Ryan, but he hitched himself to Mitt Romney's star and blew it.  Now the world sees that he can't carry Wisconsin.  Rubio and Paul will represent the final battle for long-term control of the GOP; traditional conservatives vs. libertarian conservatives.  And I don't think it will be close.  Rubio is the anointed front man for the traditional conservatives.  The GOP establishment will force Rubio on the party, one way or the other.  Watch.