Republicans Need a Champion in 2016 (Guess which two he suggests?)

Politico Magazine ^ | March 3, 2014 | Professor Larry J. Sabato

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

if the general election turns out to be closely competitive, as most open-seat contests for the White House are, who among the Republicans can redraw an Electoral College map

On what planet are most open-seat presidential elections competitive? Let’s face it, there is a strong tendency for a sitting POTUS to win reelection - and an even stronger tendency for the public to be sick and tired of the party in power after 8 years. Ronald Reagan broke that trend on both ends - defeating a sitting POTUS in 1980, and seeing his sitting VP win election to POTUS in 1988. But aside from that instance and Washington and Andrew Jackson, sitting VPs don’t win election because the public is tired of their sitting POTUS.

Truman is not an exception, because he was a sitting PoTUS, not VP, in 1948. Neither Harding nor Coolidge ran for a second term, so Coolidge and Hoover don’t break the mold either.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Neither Thomas Jefferson nor Abraham Lincoln ever ran much of anything before gaining the presidency.

Jefferson was governor of Virginia.

[Patriot95]

Of course he won’t. When people hear “Bush” again, that’s all the ammunition Clinton will need.

[elpadre]

I agree with you - totally!

In a primary I always go for someone who has been a good governor or had successful experience as the CEO of large corporation, or senior general/admiral with known positions.

Senators although may have the right positions, are too likely to be poor leaders in the WH. Their strong suit is their mouth.

In the general election I go for whoever wins the primary - regardless. I always vote. Well, I did miss in ‘52/’53 when I was in Korea.