The kids table early debate has been interesting, but ineffectual. Has Sen. Graham’s exit also set the course for Kasich and Paul to pull the plug as well?
I submit that any candidate with less support than Carly Fiorina should gracefully exit and allow their followers enough time to find a new favorite. The most recent average of polling data suggests that a few others might need to consider bowing out:
Pataki’s campaign has been an illustration of how to “phone in” a run for the presidency. Kasich is weak on … well .. everything. take those two out and at least one or two votes might go to other candidates.
The next tier of also-ran candidates will likely include some highly-visible choices like Sen. Paul and Dr. Carson.
Rand Paul always does well in online polls, but struggles outside of his home state. Other than tiny base of loyal followers, Paul is suffering from his father’s challenges – active, but small, the numbers are .. not enough.
Ben Carson enjoyed front-runner status for a time, but just never expressed a concise and intelligent foreign policy view. His demeanor is pleasant, but his lack of understanding of the workings of the world are not.
The next tier of candidates are hanging on, but barely.
Jeb! hasn’t managed to do anything and is now copying Trump’s tactics of name calling in a last-ditch effort to save his campaign. Bush today called Donald “a jerk” formally inviting Trump to be … “a jerk.”
Fiorina did the whole puppy-mercial that no one, not even her, can figure out why it was made. She also struggled with which generals were or were not embattled with Obama. She was a riser when she had her ducks in a row, not so much with her puppies and generals running astray.
Christie is an outlier. Tough to tell if he can entice the base after some difficult political choices as the governor of New Jersey.
One way or another, here’s who’s left.
Ref |
Jeb Bush |
February 11, 1953
(age 62)
Midland, Texas |
Governor of Florida
(1999–2007)
Florida Secretary of Commerce (1987–1988) |
Florida |
June 15, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[3] |
Ben Carson |
September 18, 1951
(age 64)
Detroit, Michigan |
Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery,
Johns Hopkins Hospital
(1984–2013) |
Maryland |
May 4, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[4][5] |
Chris Christie |
September 6, 1962
(age 53)
Newark, New Jersey |
Governor of New Jersey
(2010–present)
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey (2002–2008)
Morris County Freeholder (1995–1998) |
New Jersey |
June 30, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[6] |
Ted Cruz |
December 22, 1970
(age 44)
Calgary, Alberta
Canada |
United States Senator from Texas
(2013–present)
Solicitor General of Texas (2003–2008) |
Texas |
March 23, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[7][8] |
Carly Fiorina |
September 6, 1954
(age 61)
Austin, Texas |
CEO of Hewlett-Packard
(1999–2005)
Nominee for United States Senate in California, 2010 |
Virginia |
May 4, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[9] |
Jim Gilmore |
October 6, 1949
(age 66)
Richmond, Virginia |
Governor of Virginia
(1998–2002)
Presidential candidate in 2008
Nominee for United States Senate in Virginia, 2008
Attorney General of Virginia (1994–1997) |
Virginia |
July 30, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[10] |
Mike Huckabee |
August 24, 1955
(age 60)
Hope, Arkansas |
Governor of Arkansas
(1996–2007)
Presidential candidate in 2008
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (1993–1996) |
Arkansas |
May 5, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[11] |
John Kasich |
May 13, 1952
(age 63)
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania |
Governor of Ohio
(2011–present)
Presidential candidate in 2000
United States Representative from Ohio (1983–2001)
Ohio State Senator (1979–1982) |
Ohio |
July 21, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[12] |
George Pataki |
June 24, 1945
(age 70)
Peekskill, New York |
Governor of New York
(1995–2006)
New York State Senator (1993–1994)
New York State Assemblyperson (1985–1992)
Mayor of Peekskill (1981–1984) |
New York |
May 28, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[13] |
Rand Paul |
January 7, 1963
(age 52)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
United States Senator from Kentucky
(2011–present) |
Kentucky |
April 7, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[14][15] |
Marco Rubio |
May 28, 1971
(age 44)
Miami, Florida |
United States Senator from Florida
(2011–present)
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2007–2009)
Florida State Representative (2000–2009) |
Florida |
April 13, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[16][17] |
Rick Santorum |
May 10, 1958
(age 57)
Winchester, Virginia |
United States Senator from Pennsylvania
(1995–2007)
Presidential candidate in 2012
United States Representative from Pennsylvania (1991–1995) |
Pennsylvania |
May 27, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[18] |
Donald Trump |
June 14, 1946
(age 69)
Queens, New York |
CEO of The Trump Organization
(1971–present) |
New York |
June 16, 2015 |
(Campaign • Positions • Website)
FEC filing |
[19][20][2 |
The question is how many of them should follow Sen. Graham off the also-ran debate stage.
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One would think (my 1st mistake) that to stay at the bottom of the totem pole would be humiliating after a while…..Rand Paul, like his father will stay in and stay in all the while raking in Party funds and donations. “whining all the way” Matter of fact, listening to debates and interviews I’m surprised that with al the other whiners on stage they haven’t formed a choir.
I honestly think that the ‘re-runs’ and a couple or more of the others are on nothing more than an ego trip to serve themselves, rather than the Country.
Several have a trait I feel would be desirable, but am yet to commit. Thanks for the info, Rick. It is vital that we have all of the information we can. and remember to VOTE FOR AMERICA