James Carville likes Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton for 2016 hopefuls [VIDEO]

On Sunday’s broadcast of ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” former Clinton adviser James Carville said that Sen. Ted Cruz will be a force to be reckoned with should he decide to run for president in 2016.

The Canadian-born Cruz, Carville noted, hails from the more ideological wing of the GOP, while the last two Republicans to unsuccessfully run for president, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, were both inherently moderate and compromise-friendly.

“I think he is the most talented and fearless Republican politician I’ve seen in the last 30 years. I further think that he’s going to run for president and he is going to create something. I’m not sitting here saying he’s going to win. And I think Sen. DeMint is right. I’ve listened to excerpts of his speech in South Carolina. He touches every button. And this guy has no fear. He just keeps plowing ahead. And he is going to be something to watch. A lot of Republicans feel this way, George. And you hear this a lot. If we only got someone who was articulate and was for what we were for, we would win elections. We get John McCains and Mitt Romneys and squishy guys that cannot do anything. One thing he is not, he’s not squishy.”(continued)

I like him, but a lot can happen in a few years. Perhaps an issue that comes along and derails him like Rubio.

Also, noting his birth location (Alberta) and birth parents (Cuban Immigrant/US Citizen) are we going to have to put up with another round of NBC debates?

Also, I still don’t think Hillary Clinton is sold on running. The more that Cruz pushes “Benghazi” the less good that is going to look for Clinton when more of it comes out. I just don’t see Hillary with the energy to give it another go.

I still have my spreadsheets from the IA Caucuses and once we get to late 2015 will try to predict county by county votes for the candidates.

Right now, I see the following likely contenders:

GOP:
Sarah Palin/Ted Cruz/Allen West/Rand Paul

I see Rand Paul probably running, and possibly 1 of the other 3, but unlikely all 4 would run as I think ideologically they’d all be consistent enough to a point.

Newt (Newt’s coming back whether he has a shot or not)

Christie/Bush/Daniels - 1 of the 3 Establishment candidates will run. Daniels may run as a stalking horse for 1 of the other 2.

Rubio has been too badly hurt by the immigration issue.
Santorum filled a void in 2012, but won’t be back in 2016
Bachmann will not be back
Cain will not be back
Perry could come back, but unlikely.

Healy and Jindal are possible, but unlikely.

On the Democratic Side:
Hillary Clinton (everything seems to evolve around what she will do. If she runs, the Dems will probably reward her for being good and waiting 8 yearrs. If she doesn’t, the advantage goes to the 3 Governors in very liberal states:

Andrew Cuomo/Martin O’Malley - If the contest is between these two assuming Hillary doesn’t run, O’Malley’s only chance is he thinks he can get the minority vote nationwide like he has in Baltimore and PG County. Not sure that would pan out and I think this Cuomo would have an edge on him.

Deval Patrick - If he runs and gets the indirect support of the Obama White House, Hillary will NOT run as it will just be a repeat of 2008 (see former SC Dem Senate Primary in regards to why). O’Malleys base crumbles.

Pesonally, I could go for a Cruz/West or West/Cruz. But unless we reconfigure the delegate selection process to stop giving the RINOs the advantage, it could be a tough fight.

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