If the 2016 Republican Primary for POTUS was held today - who would you vote for?

Not being a Republican, I will abstain.

 

But there does seem to be a lot of support here for Rand Paul.

I, like papa, would have to abstain. As a registered Independent, I likely won't be able to vote for any candidates. But, of I could vote for anyone on this list it would be Chris Christie.

Ted Cruz just won two straw votes in Louisiana and Texas (over Rick Perry). Cruz has proven that he is an excellent campaigner and debater. The Republican establishment leaders are busy rigging the primaries against Cruz but he is going to be very tough to beat in the primaries.

 

If the GOP was not planning to restrict the number of debates and level the playing field by avoiding real debates, I would make Cruz the odds on favorite to win the nomination. With two more years of Obama's term left, I think that Republican voters will look very favorable toward candidates who have taken strong stands to minimize the damage that Obama has inflicted on this country.

 

I think that Chris Christie would make a great candidate for the Democrats.

Rand Paul hands down. No other candidate comes close. Cruz or Walker would be a distant third.

 

Ben Carson sucks on guns.

 

Everyone else is pretty much a big-government Republican.

 

I think that Chris Christie would make a great candidate for the Democrats.

This :lol2:

Rand Paul hands down. No other candidate comes close. Cruz or Walker would be a distant third.

 

Ben Carson sucks on guns.

 

Everyone else is pretty much a big-government Republican.

Carson's not perfect on Guns but he has clarified his position and he's more agreeable on them now.

Ted Cruz just won two straw votes in Louisiana and Texas (over Rick Perry). Cruz has proven that he is an excellent campaigner and debater. The Republican establishment leaders are busy rigging the primaries against Cruz but he is going to be very tough to beat in the primaries. If the GOP was not planning to restrict the number of debates and level the playing field by avoiding real debates' date=' I would make Cruz the odds on favorite to win the nomination. With two more years of Obama's term left, I think that Republican voters will look very favorable toward candidates who have taken strong stands to minimize the damage that Obama has inflicted on this country. I think that Chris Christie would make a great candidate for the Democrats.[/quote']

 

Mitch, Do we agree that Sen Cruz cannot win the general election?

I, like papa, would have to abstain. As a registered Independent, I likely won't be able to vote for any candidates. But, of I could vote for anyone on this list it would be Chris Christie.

That would be a win win for Democrats if Christie and Clinton apposed each other

Ted Cruz just won two straw votes in Louisiana and Texas (over Rick Perry). Cruz has proven that he is an excellent campaigner and debater. The Republican establishment leaders are busy rigging the primaries against Cruz but he is going to be very tough to beat in the primaries.

 

If the GOP was not planning to restrict the number of debates and level the playing field by avoiding real debates, I would make Cruz the odds on favorite to win the nomination. With two more years of Obama's term left, I think that Republican voters will look very favorable toward candidates who have taken strong stands to minimize the damage that Obama has inflicted on this country.

 

I think that Chris Christie would make a great candidate for the Democrats.

 

He spoke at both events and actively tried to win them. Nobody else did to my knowledge.

 

Cruz is a good campaigner but he won't fare well in places like New Hampshire and Nevada (two of the first four primary states).

 

Rand has the best ground game in the first four primary states hands down.

 

Rand has also proven himself to be among the best in fundraising. Outpacing the former VP nominee and even Marco Rubio. That says something when you have access to Mitt Romney's donors and in Marco Rubio's case, access to FL donors as well as Jeb Bush's connections.

 

Only one person from FL will run. Either Jeb or Marco. If Jeb tells him to stand down because he wants to run, he'll stand down.

Mitch, Do we agree that Sen Cruz cannot win the general election?

No, I don't agree at all. If a dud like Obama can win re-election after the first term that he had, then the presidency is not out of anybody's reach.

No' date=' I don't agree at all. If a dud like Obama can win re-election after the first term that he had, then the presidency is not out of anybody's reach.[/quote']

 

Come on. That's not an answer.

 

How can he win the middle voters?

I like what I know of Rubio.

I like Rand and would probably vote for him.

Jeb would be fun to run against Hillary, Clinton vs. Bush would be more fun than we could handle.

 

I like Ryan but I don't think he has a shot.

Carson might be the smartest man running, but I don't see him getting any traction for a strong run.

Christie is loved by almost every Democrat and Liberal that I know...nuff said we don't need a RINO running for President

Come on. That's not an answer.

 

How can he win the middle voters?

 

Go the Mitt Romney and John McCain route. Proven methods to grab 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

He spoke at both events and actively tried to win them. Nobody else did to my knowledge.

 

Cruz is a good campaigner but he won't fare well in places like New Hampshire and Nevada (two of the first four primary states).

 

Rand has the best ground game in the first four primary states hands down.

 

Rand has also proven himself to be among the best in fundraising. Outpacing the former VP nominee and even Marco Rubio. That says something when you have access to Mitt Romney's donors and in Marco Rubio's case, access to FL donors as well as Jeb Bush's connections.

 

Only one person from FL will run. Either Jeb or Marco. If Jeb tells him to stand down because he wants to run, he'll stand down.

I like Rand Paul but I just don't see him as a serious threat to win the nomination. Karl Rove and the other Rockefeller Republicans do not want Rand Paul to win the nomination, and unlike Cruz, I don't think that he is aggressive enough to take on the national GOP leadership and win.