The race for 2016

I touched on this the other day but the race for 2016 has unofficially started.  This week, politicians have met with the Iowa delegation.  This does not meet that all of them will be running for president.

Those meeting with Iowa's delegation include Virginia Senator Mark Warner, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  On the schedule for Thursday include Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Booker is an interesting figure.  As a presidential candidate, he is limited to local political positions on his resume.  That would be fine if he were, say, the Mayor of New York City.  But he isn't.  I'm sure he's a fine person but when it comes to a mayor running for president, my guess is that the three cities where they would make great presidential candidates are New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.  He has the executive experience but there's no statewide experience or foreign policy experience.  Now, like with other candidates that get the nomination, the lack of foreign policy experience can be made up for with someone from Congress or even a strong Secretary of State.

What I do find surprising is that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick did not meet with the Iowa delegation.  He gave one of the most passionate speeches on Tuesday night.  Is this to say that he has no plans to run in 2016?  I don't know.  His gubernatorial term expires following the 2014 election.

This is the first indication I have heard of either Klobuchar or Gillibrand potentially running for president.  The same goes for Mayor Villaraigosa.  As for Governor Schweitzer, I have not heard any rumors previously.

Regardless, until Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton states once and for all that she is not going to be a candidate, all this will continue to be talk.  A Clinton run would take a bulk of the candidates out of the race.

Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to speak to the Iowa delegation but his staff decided to cancel the appearance.  If he runs, it would be his third race for the presidency.

Of all the potential candidates, Governor O'Malley is doing all the right things that signify that he is running.

Time will tell but one thing is sure: FOCUS ON 2012!