Weasel Week Wrap-Up Waiting and Watching to Win in 2016

GOP Base: Tied Up Over Issues

(VA Win Motivator 101)

Biggest Campaign Issue

(Ready, Aim, Fire)

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Get These Things Through Your Head

Thinking About Leading the Pack (Again)

(Four Strong Foundations)

The GOP’s greatest threat? Not Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the budget or deficits or the price of tea in China. Their threat, as they perceive the “threat” is Hillary Rodham Clinton. GOP Strategists Believe: “To beat Hillary Clinton in 2016, we need a strong candidate. A crowded field has the potential to give Hillary a bigger leg up than she currently has.” Piece extracted from this article (The Hill):

This contrast poses both opportunities and threats for the GOP. For example:

• A winning candidate could emerge from a crowded primary stronger and battle tested, much as President Obama was strengthened from the 2008 primary fight with her.
• A crowded primary could also weaken a GOP nominee by extending the fight and exhausting the eventual winner physically and financially.
• A crowded field also could muddle things enough to allow a weaker nominee to emerge.

The GOP side is filled with well-known political names – a run down follows:

1. Sen. Rand Paul has repeatedly said he’s considering the race.
2. Gov. Chris Christie is expected by many to run.
3. Sen. Ted Cruz has sent signals that he’ll be a candidate (and just four years after his election to the Senate).
4. Former Gov. JEB Bush may run.
5. Sen. Marco Rubio had been seen as a strong contender before his image was bruised with the GOP base over immigration reform.

Three also-rans stand out:

Gov. Rick Perry, former Gov. Jon Huntsman, and former Sen. Rick Santorum. All are thought to be mulling the race. Additionally, Rep. Steve King, Rep. Pete King, and Rep. Paul Ryan are also potentially in the hunt.

Then sprinkle in Gov. John Kasich and Gov. Scott Walker along with long shots: Donald Trump, half-term Gov. Sarah Palin, and Rep. Michele Bachmann. 

Count 'em — yep, that’s 16 names for the “16” race.  

How telling is that, or very fortunate, or just merely a coincidence. But, "16 in 16" does have a nice ring to it. Kinda like 9-9-9 don’t you think?