2016 Update: Are the Parties
Close to Picking Nominees?
will actually be cast next month in Iowa,
New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada
and, at this point, former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton appears to be a lock for the
Democratic nomination. Though the latest
polling certainly shows Vermont Sen. Bernie
Sanders competitive with Ms. Clinton in Iowa
and New Hampshire, he trails badly in all of the southern states and in the important Super
Delegate category. Much of the South will vote in the March 1st Super Tuesday primary,
meaning the nomination fight will likely be over at that time.
For Republicans, a long process will begin in February. In Iowa, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) leads
For Republicans, a long process will begin in February. In Iowa, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) leads
in most polls, but Donald Trump has substantial polling advantages in the other three February
states and most of those voting on Super Tuesday. Still, it appears no one is on a path to
capture the nomination on the first ballot, which could mean the first deadlocked political
convention since Wendell Willkie became the Republican standard bearer on the sixth
ballot at the 1940 GOP convention. The last time a convention went longer than the
Willkie-Thomas E. Dewey battle occurred all the way back in 1920 when then-Ohio
Sen. Warren G. Harding won the Republican nomination on the 11th ballot after
securing just 5% of the vote on the first roll call.
The GOP race is very fluid, and it would not be surprising to see a second tier candidate
The GOP race is very fluid, and it would not be surprising to see a second tier candidate
rise to competitive status in the early February states. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) may
become the candidate most of the establishment backs, and New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie may be positioned well enough to by-pass former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Such an occurrence would almost assuredly end Bush’s effort and possibly allow
Christie to become the dark horse February candidate. Source: AAN
close-to-picking-nominees#sthash.RtrwWLhf.dpuf