With the 2014 Midterm elections out of the way, all eyes have turned to the 2016 elections, which will ultimately determine who will succeed President Obama at the end of his second term. Although few candidates have officially announced that they will be running for President, a longer list of speculative candidates has been under close surveillance by the media and the American people.
Confirmed Candidates*
Ted Cruz
Party: Republican
Previous Position: Senator – Texas
The Good: Cruz’s anti-establishment sentiment and fiscal policies are largely in line with the “Tea Party” faction of the Republican Party, a faction that wields tremendous influence and popular support.
The Bad: Moderate Republicans tend to dislike that Cruz played a major in the government shutdown of 2013, while ultra-conservative libertarians tend to favor other candidates such as Rand Paul.
Rand Paul
Party: Republican
Previous Position: Senator – Kentucky
The Good: Like Cruz, Paul has a strong anti-establishment and anti-Washington ideology, as evidenced by his campaign slogan “Defeat the Washington machine. Unleash the American dream,” which is likely to resonate with right wing conservatives. His father, libertarian poster-child Ron Paul, will also help him win libertarian support in the primary.
The Bad: Although Paul has recently altered his approach to foreign policy to make it conform more the Republican ideal, many Republicans are hesitant to forget the isolationist practices that he supported earlier on in his political career, including cutting all international aid. More moderate Republicans want to see Paul distance himself from his father’s policies, but doing so may lose Paul his Libertarian support.
Likely Candidates
Hillary Clinton
Party: Democrat
Previous Position: Secretary of State
The Good: Her close ties to the Obama administration working as the Secretary of State and longstanding presence in the party makes her a very popular choice for Democrats. Her political star-power makes her a natural leader of the Democratic party and will ensure that her campaign receives ample funding from donors and PACS alike.
The Bad: Hilary’s actions in dealing with the recent “Emailgate” scandal, which involved her deleting thousands of business related emails that were stored on her personal account, raise suspicions from both parties. The Clinton family has long been one associated with scandals, and the seemingly inevitable possibility of another scandal arising during her time running may be enough to deter Democratic support.
Jeb Bush
Party: Republican
Previous Position: Governor – Florida
The Good: Jeb Bush is reported to have the lead in campaign funding among fellow Republicans in part through the use of his own super PAC “Right to Rise”. Also, like Clinton, Bush’s name recognition will allow him to become an easy target for corporate donations and save him money in advertising. Bush’s ideologies appeal strongly to the moderate Republican, and will likely make him a strong contender for the undecided vote if he were to make it to the general election
The Bad: Bush’s name recognition could also be considered a downside, as his brother and former President George W. Bush was heavily criticized by many moderates. Also, although he seems to be the most likely Republican to win the general election, his moderate views have been harshly criticized by right-wingers, which threatens his chances of making it out of the primary.
*As of 4/10/15
