Who will get 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination?

[bush_cheney2004]

Trump gets lots of free pub tonight on the A&E network.

For those who don't know much about him...even in Canada.

[bush_cheney2004]

Donald Trump sounds like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas...great for American television.

Edited December 17, 2015 by bush_cheney2004

[On Guard for Thee]

Trump gets lots of free pub tonight on the A&E network.

For those who don't know much about him...even in Canada.

I think most Canadians know enough about him to bother with more American game show type crap.

[Derek 2.0]

Jeb Bush is toast....he really does lack energy, just like Trump says !

I don't agree with that, but he sure could use a toastmasters tuning........the folksy charm worked well for his brother, not so much for Jeb.

[Derek 2.0]

Rubio or Cruz would be safe bets, but the Republicans need more than just safe to win a general election.

True.

Trump says he will support the party process, so they need to figure out how to use his popularity and media power no matter who is on the ticket.

A good sign for the GOP.......no Perot down the middle putting a Clinton into the big chair....

That translates as Trump on the bottom of the ticket after the convention.

Never thought of that one......there's been far worse VPs.

[bush_cheney2004]

I don't agree with that, but he sure could use a toastmasters tuning........the folksy charm worked well for his brother, not so much for Jeb.

That's the problem...Jeb had to be so much better because of George.

Trump can dice and slice on the fly without missing a beat.

[Derek 2.0]

I see Trump falling into the same slot as VP Nelson Rockefeller ('74 - '77) when President Ford needed a VP.

Might be enough to satisfy his big "Donald" ego.

Interesting point Trump brought up in the post debate scrum, he's polling well with Clinton right now, but hasn't even started going after her yet........he might not need to play second fiddle......I think the first four primaries (Iowa/NH/SC/Nev) will let us know if Trump's the real deal.

[Derek 2.0]

That's the problem...Jeb had to be so much better because of George.

Trump can dice and slice on the fly without missing a beat.

Without a doubt he is a performer on stage, but does lack substance..........that will be a choice for primary voters.

[bush_cheney2004]

Interesting point Trump brought up in the post debate scrum, he's polling well with Clinton right now, but hasn't even started going after her yet........he might not need to play second fiddle......I think the first four primaries (Iowa/NH/SC/Nev) will let us know if Trump's the real deal.

Trumps believes he can win it all (why wouldn't he?), but it's a risk that the party does not want to take. All or nothing.

They can hedge their bet with Trump as VP.

[bush_cheney2004]

Without a doubt he is a performer on stage, but does lack substance..........that will be a choice for primary voters.

But that's his appeal....he is so over-the-top outrageous...just as a Trump should be.

We know this guy going back to the "greed is good" 1980's. He is Gordon Gekko with more money.

[Derek 2.0]

Trumps believes he can win it all (why wouldn't he?), but it's a risk that the party does not want to take. All or nothing.

They can hedge their bet with Trump as VP.

It all comes back to the primaries.......I would hedge that if he doesn't win Iowa, his numbers will tank......he might be polling at ~40%, but all that means is that ~60% of the GOP don't support him.......One of the network talking heads made a good point the other night, if everyone other than Trump/Rubio/Bush/Cruz/Christie drops out, the State by State races will look quite different.........four years ago, Gingrich was polling at 37% over Romney.......

[On Guard for Thee]

Trumps believes he can win it all (why wouldn't he?), but it's a risk that the party does not want to take. All or nothing.

They can hedge their bet with Trump as VP.

Who in their right mind would want Trump as their VP? Oh yeah I forgot, we are talking republicans. Ok, carry on.

[Derek 2.0]

But that's his appeal....he is so over-the-top outrageous...just as a Trump should be.

Without a doubt..........And Reagan, trailing Bush early, used the race card against Connally in South Carolina for the win......people didn't take Reagan seriously.........interesting times.

[kimmy]

I don't recall Romney ever trailing anybody by 40 points, as Bush currently is.

-k

[kimmy]

That translates as Trump on the bottom of the ticket after the convention.

The idea that Trump's giant ego would allow him to play 2nd fiddle to anybody on the Republican card seems pretty far-fetched, IMO.

-k

[Derek 2.0]

I don't recall Romney ever trailing anybody by 40 points, as Bush currently is.

-k

The previous race didn't have this number of candidates......From ~late October 2011 through late Dec 2011, Gingrich, Cain and Romney were engaged in a three way race until Cain withdrew after the sexual harassment scandal and endorsed Newt, who lead in most polls for weeks......Santorum just barely beat Romney in Iowa, Romney won in NH, Gingrich in South Carolina (Mitt was "done" at that point), Romney won Florida (and another State, I forget which one), Gingrich's supporters left for Santorum, then Romney sailed the rest of the way.........

Anything could happen.........as I said, it will be telling where the first 3-4 States will land, who then retires from the race and where that support (and big money) goes....lots of potential for dramatic swings......in a few polls, Cruz is leading in Iowa and Christie in New Hampshire (which lets independents vote).....

[Derek 2.0]

The idea that Trump's giant ego would allow him to play 2nd fiddle to anybody on the Republican card seems pretty far-fetched, IMO.

-k

If he did, C-SPAN's ratings would 'uuuuuge.

[Argus]

None of the Republican candidates are perfect of course,but personally I would rather see any one of them as President rather than Clinton.I thought Trump's numbers wouldn't be this high for so long.I don't agree with everything Trump says but on the other hand,it's kind of refreshing that he's in no way politically correct.I think it may be Cruz that gets the nomination in the end.

Nothing about Cruz is appealing.

Since he won his Senate seat in 2012, Mr. Cruz is hands down considered the most self-serving and nakedly ambitious member of Congress, a singular distinction considering the competition on Capitol Hill. Whereas Mr. Trump comes off as a braggadocio and impulsive, Mr. Cruz is a calculating and self-obsessed flamethrower who has deftly harnessed big data to build a diehard following of evangelicals and Tea Partiers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/letters/cruz-trumps-trump-for-scary/article27791123/

[kimmy]

The stuff that Cruz (and some of the others for that matter) are saying right now is so toxic to the general electorate that one can only wonder how the Republicans would attempt to "shake the Etch-A-Sketch" (tm Romney's PR man) once the general election comes around should Cruz or a similarly polarizing figure win the nomination.

-k

[bush_cheney2004]

If anyone thinks that Hillary Clinton is not already a polarizing figure then they do not understand American politics.

All is fair in love, war, and politics.

[Wilber]

Seems like polarization has become more the norm in modern politics,

[sharkman]

Nothing about Cruz is appealing.

Since he won his Senate seat in 2012, Mr. Cruz is hands down considered the most self-serving and nakedly ambitious member of Congress, a singular distinction considering the competition on Capitol Hill. Whereas Mr. Trump comes off as a braggadocio and impulsive, Mr. Cruz is a calculating and self-obsessed flamethrower who has deftly harnessed big data to build a diehard following of evangelicals and Tea Partiers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/letters/cruz-trumps-trump-for-scary/article27791123/

What's this? The G&M doesn't like Cruz? Somehow that's not exactly a surprise. But to say he's considered the most self-serving and nakedly ambitious member of congress is a hoot! Obama rocked that category for all time.

[On Guard for Thee]

What's this? The G&M doesn't like Cruz? Somehow that's not exactly a surprise. But to say he's considered the most self-serving and nakedly ambitious member of congress is a hoot! Obama rocked that category for all time.

Cruz is nothing ore than a very scary tea party darling who kicked off his campaign at Liberty College (in case you don't know they are the folks who think the world is 6000 years old), to compare him to Obama in any way is quite ridiculous.

[bush_cheney2004]

G&M should love Cruz....he has Canadian content after all. Sen. Ted Cruz is our "Maple Leaf Candidate".

[On Guard for Thee]

G&M should love Cruz....he has Canadian content after all. Sen. Ted Cruz is our "Maple Leaf Candidate".

Cruz is dumb enough he did't even know he was a Canadian until a couple of years ago, duh. But he's not anymore and we happily wash our hands of him. Y'all down there in Texas can have him.