Candidates for 2016 include Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley

While we are still focused in on the 2012 elections, the National Journal has brought up some names to keep an eye on for the 2016 election.  What's really interesting to see in the list is that practically all of the potential candidates are governors.

One name in general, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, will see a primetime speaking opportunity in Charlotte tonight.  Currently serving as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, O'Malley previously served two terms as the mayor of Baltimore.  I've been a fan of his for over 8 years now and think he would make a damn fine presidential candidate.

Politico profiled Gov. O'Malley in July and here's an excerpt.

“Our party will do increasingly better if we keep foremost and in the forefront our theory of the case — the larger story, if you will — of what are the things that we need to do … to restore our country as a great job-generating and opportunity-expanding entity,” he said.

If that sounds a little like the language of a 1990s, Clinton-style moderate Democrat, there’s good reason for it.

In 2012, O’Malley slings the kind of rhetoric that pleases the Democratic base. At times, he cuts the figure of an old-school Democratic pol — a former big-city mayor from the East Coast with a photo of JFK and a portrait of the Irish revolutionary Michael Collins in his office.

Vice President Joe Biden will be 74 in 2016 so I really do not see him making a third run for the presidency.  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has consistently said that her current job will be her last in public service.  I don't see her running again.  I wish that was not the case but it's likely what will be happening.

Other big names to keep an eye out for include New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Virginia Senator Mark Warner (a former governor).  As for names that could see some interest sparked this week from speaking at the convention, they include Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

O'Malley is at the top of my list of candidates in 2016.