CNN Article Speculates On Rand vs. Hillary in 2016.

[anaconda]

I like seeing this sort of thing...

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/24/opinion/stanley-hillary-clinton-benghazi/index.html

[eleganz]

Hilary is the only democrat that I can imagine utilizing 'the obama machine' to it's fullest potential outside of supporting a candidate actually named Obama.


This performance might be -- and should be -- remembered well by the Republican base when the primary campaign of 2016 starts. Ever since the last president election, Rand Paul hasn't set a foot wrong. From his bridge-building visit to Israel to his opposition to the fiscal cliff deal, he seems well placed to become the tea party candidate.
And what an unusually satisfying choice Clinton vs. Paul would be.
It would be a genuine contest between big government liberalism and small government conservatism: Clinton's internationalism and support for welfare programs vs. Paul's anti-interventionism and opposition to pork.
The question of who could win such an unusual contest is difficult to answer. The Paul family has a tradition of winning votes from Democrats, but Clinton's new respectability could also pull votes away from the Republicans. One Kentucky poll found that in a head-to-head contest, she'd even beat Rand in his home state of Kentucky.
It would be a campaign that any elections scholar would relish.

[69360]

Rand hammered her there. If it comes down to Rand v Hillary we will see that clip played endlessly.

[liveandletlive]

Rand has some gonads on him, but i fear some blowblack from the Clinton machine

[dinosaur]

Rand has some gonads on him, but i fear some blowblack from the Clinton machine

That is a sobering thought.

[twomp]

All speculation of course but in my opinion, if the economy tanks in the next 4 years. It will tank Clinton just like how Bush tanked McCain. Clinton won't be able to get the Obama stench off of her.

[Aratus]

a slightly worse economy almost elects rand paul or any republican, a greatly worse economy catapults rand into the presidency

[dbill27]

a slightly worse economy almost elects rand paul or any republican, a greatly worse economy catapults rand into the presidency

That's what everyone said about this last election and romney. FDR was elected four times for making the economy worse, we're foolish to think that people won't simply vote for the person handing out bread when the economy stays bad.

[loveableteddybear]

That's what everyone said about this last election and romney. FDR was elected four times for making the economy worse, we're foolish to think that people won't simply vote for the person handing out bread when the economy stays bad.
+Rep

/threadwinner

[S.Shorland]

How can she be president after suffering a brain haemorrhage,for goodness' sake? Bachmann only had headaches and that would have been enough in the latter stages.

[tennman]

How can she be president after suffering a brain haemorrhage,for goodness' sake? Bachmann only had headaches and that would have been enough in the latter stages.

Good point, but the media is in the tank for the establishment and especially Obama-linked Democrats.

In my opinion, Rand has the potential to start out as the front runner. The truth is, most conservative Republicans really liked Ron Paul but either didn't think he was electable, too old or were scared about his foreign policy. I wish I had a dime for every Republican I knew who said, "I wish Ron Paul had a chance." It infuriated me. But with Rand, he's visible, being bold, is young, he's the most vocal (and actioned) opposition to Obama/Hillary/The Socialists. I think that the current Big Brother growth has turned Republicans who were pro-war. Not all of them, but a large part of them. I think it's a perfect storm for Rand barring any gaffes.

[supermario21]

Good point, but the media is in the tank for the establishment and especially Obama-linked Democrats.

In my opinion, Rand has the potential to start out as the front runner. The truth is, most conservative Republicans really liked Ron Paul but either didn't think he was electable, too old or were scared about his foreign policy. I wish I had a dime for every Republican I knew who said, "I wish Ron Paul had a chance." It infuriated me. But with Rand, he's visible, being bold, is young, he's the most vocal (and actioned) opposition to Obama/Hillary/The Socialists. I think that the current Big Brother growth has turned Republicans who were pro-war. Not all of them, but a large part of them. I think it's a perfect storm for Rand barring any gaffes.

I don't know. Rand has to keep being a conservative titan to win people over. The teo/neocons still hate his policy. There are plenty of Romney-bots and others on twitter still labeling him a "non-starter because of his foreign policy and national security agenda."

[liveandletlive]

Good point, but the media is in the tank for the establishment and especially Obama-linked Democrats.

In my opinion, Rand has the potential to start out as the front runner. The truth is, most conservative Republicans really liked Ron Paul but either didn't think he was electable, too old or were scared about his foreign policy. I wish I had a dime for every Republican I knew who said, "I wish Ron Paul had a chance." It infuriated me. But with Rand, he's visible, being bold, is young, he's the most vocal (and actioned) opposition to Obama/Hillary/The Socialists. I think that the current Big Brother growth has turned Republicans who were pro-war. Not all of them, but a large part of them. I think it's a perfect storm for Rand barring any gaffes.


2016 is too far away. Rand must tread carefully with these neo-cons. deep down i have doubts about rand's electability, but he's all we've got

[anaconda]

That's what everyone said about this last election and romney. FDR was elected four times for making the economy worse, we're foolish to think that people won't simply vote for the person handing out bread when the economy stays bad.

I agree with this. Plus, Republican "obstructionism" will be blamed for the economy. Plus the establishment WILL NOT want Rand Paul any where near the White House. They will spend billions to prevent this, and send their bought-and-paid-for media into overdrive.

[alucard13mmfmj]

Worse case scenario. Rand is the lesser of two/three or how many ever evils in 2016. I'd still vote for him... unless Ron Paul decides to run.

[FSP-Rebel]

I don't know. Rand has to keep being a conservative titan to win people over. The teo/neocons still hate his policy. There are plenty of Romney-bots and others on twitter still labeling him a "non-starter because of his foreign policy and national security agenda."
I agree and have no doubt that Rand will continue his solid conservative streak going forward but there is a gap in ideology between the teacons and the neocons. The Tea folk probably rank him as the male version of Palin and the neocons may always stick their noses up because he's a Paul. Rand will likely make the focus of his primary campaign to be of a fiscal nature, pro-life and a savior of the gun community. Then he can moderate in the general to draw in indies with his discussion on refocusing our foreign policy and civil rights which he'll need to to soften the attacks coming from the racial left. As far as these Romney Twittiots are concerned, they use the "non-starter" talk because they know he's going to be the preeminent heavy hitter on the right and will suck the oxygen out of the room when they try to run whatever rino(s) they have in mind. They're clearly worried that his appeal on the right is so much more pronounced than that of his father and it won't be easy to cast him aside. Essentially, they're lying to their diminishing choir and they see the landscape is changing and that Rand is basically re-co/opting the Tea Party back to where it belongs based on the crafting of his message. He's been so smart about it and touching on all the key points that even the talk hosts know they don't have much in terms of rationalizing their audiences away from him if they so chose. We can't just stick with the Fed as our main talking point but rather a multi-pronged approach that touches on many issues that will solidify support amongst a broader range of republicans.