US presidential election 2016 •

CPAC straw poll: Paul wins again; Walker comes 2nd; Bush grabs 5th place

A recent survey by The Washington Times/CPAC has placed Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky at the top spot as the best presidential preference straw for the third year in a row.

The poll was conducted at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

The analysts believe this is largely because of his young libertarian legions, as they had done for his father, former Rep. Ron Paul.

Even thought Rand Paul managed to grab the first position in the presidential straw survey of conservative activists, the bigger news of attraction from the angle of 2016 presidential race are likely the strong showing of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and mediocre result of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Political analysts believe that the readers are more concerned and interested to know about the performances of both presidential front-runners– Walker and Bush.

In the poll, Walker jumped from 2014’s sixth place to an impressive second position this year. The survey showed he managed to triple his 3,007 votes share spread among 17 candidates to 21.4 percent, which is not far behind 25.7 percent share of Paul. When first and second slot holders’ votes were tallied, the margin was found less than one percentage point.

On the other hand, Bush managed to clutch the fifth position. The top four positions were held by Paul (1), Walker (2), physician Ben Carson (3) and Sen. Ted Cruz (4).

Bush was followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum and Sen. Marco Rubio. Gov. Christie won only under three percent of the vote and Texas ex-governor Rick Perry managed to win just more than one percent.

CPAC has emerged as the ‘voice of the political right’, if go by definition and tradition. It has become a favorite place of almost every presidential hopefuls where they come in order to establish their bonafides and woo support for their candidature.

In 2012, Mitt Romney also approached the forum to shine his electoral prospects.

Clinton raises gender inequality, pay gap before likely presidential bid

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Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has still not revealed her presidential ambitions, is likely to make gender inequality her main agenda if she contests election in 2016.

In her address to a gathering of female technology executives on Tuesday, Clinton expressed her disappointment at the existing gap between men and women in their pay structure.

Clinton’s Tuesday speech was the first of total three speeches scheduled to be given before predominantly female audiences in the coming weeks before she may make an official announcement regarding giving a second attempt to contest for presidential elections.

She is emerging as a hot favorite among all Democratic probables for the presidential bid.

According to Clinton, the women software developers in the country have just got limited to less than a quarter and the technology firms are to be blamed for promoting a loutish culture.

“It’s been almost a Wild West environment. I think a lot of women find that distasteful, to be in a situation sort of resembling a locker-room,” the former Secretary of State said while underling the boom witnessed in Silicon Valley in recent decades.

In her unsuccessful run in 2008, Clinton’s presidential campaign downplayed her gender as well as the historic nature of the woman’s prospect of being elected for the presidency for the first time.

In March, Clinton is scheduled to address an annual conference of Emily’s List, the political action committee which assists in the election of women supporting abortion rights.

Democrat Janice Hahn opts out of 2016 presidential bid for local post

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California Rep. Janice Hahn on Wednesday said that she won’t be seeking a re-election next year, when the country will stage its presidential polls, and announced she would go for the local office in Los Angeles.

Releasing a statement on Wednesday, she announced her decision to run for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, where her late father, Kenneth, had also served for four decades.

The board is known for directing justice, social and transportation programs for the 10 million residents of the county.

Hahn, who turned as the first Democrat in the new Congress to opt out of polls, cited the growing frustration with the partisan gridlock in Washington as the reason behind his decision.

“Washington is broken, it’s increasingly mired in political gridlock, and there’s virtually zero cooperation between the two parties. That’s not the kind of government I grew up with, and it’s precisely why I know I can do more for the Los Angeles region on the board of supervisors,” Hahn said.

The 62-year-leader has been serving in the House since 2011, when she replaced fellow Democrat Jane Harman after his retirement.

Even though Democrats use to dominate the Los Angeles board that comprises five members, they have very grim prospects for capturing a House majority soon.

Republicans enjoy a 245-188 House edge, with two vacancies in the so-called GOP-held seats. Democrats would require to gain 30 seats to win the control over the House in the 2016 elections.

Democrats strategize to retain Senate control, seek star recruits

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Less than four months after the painful loss in midterm polls that cost them their majority, the Democrats seem to have started strategizing a path back to retain the lost control over Senate that runs through over half a dozen blue and purple American states where the party can boost its presidential prospects.

Despite the terrain seems favorable for the Democrats, the party loyals fear falling short if marquee challengers fail to come forward, as their talent pool is superficial and miss the expectations required to root out a well-prepared group of Republican senators.

In order to boost their 2016 prospects, the Democrats are making blue-chip recruits of leaders, enjoying tags of a star fundraiser, a war hero, a popular governor or toughened ex-senators, as they believe such associations are essential to win back the lost control of the US Senate in prudential election in 2016.

“The bench is short, but the aces are strong… All you need is a right-hander that throws 99 mph, and you don’t need a bench,” said Democratic donor John Morgan.

The Democrats are under severe pressure for enlisting top contenders as they require to win four seats or five (if a Republican wins the White House race) in order to reclaim the majority.

Former Pennsylvania governor Edward G. Rendell (Democrat), said, “Candidates matter…The lesson of 2010 is that even in the wave election, where Republicans nominated candidates with flaws, they lost. So we can’t just nominate anybody. We’ve got to find really good candidates.”

A survey of over a dozen national and state-based Democrats revealed about some of the top favorites that they wished to see associated with them this presidential election. Some of the prominent names include former Ohio governor Ted Strickland; New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan; Iraq war veteran Rep. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), who lost her legs during a combat mission; former senator Russell Feingold (Wis.), a liberal favorite; and former senator Kay Hagan (N.C.), who lost a close reelection race; and Rep. Patrick Murphy (Fla.), a talented fundraiser from a swing district.

Republicans will defend 24 seats in Senate in the 2016 election which include seven in those states won twice by President Barack Obama, while Democrats will be defending just 10 seats all in the states that the President had carried in both 2008 and 2012 polls.

As Republicans in House are enjoying their widest majority in so many decades, they are automatically the early favorites to stay in power. But the fight for the US Senate would finally determine whether the next president will have to face a split Congress or have a completely GOP-controlled one.

Barbara goes soft on ‘too many Bushes’, says “I changed my mind over Jeb”

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The name of Republican Jeb Bush as the front runner for the party’s presidential candidate for 2016 is not only making rounds in the political corridors of the country, but his presidency bid seems to have turned into a hot family discussion.

Former first lady Barbara Bush has completed a 180 over the most debated issue of whether her son and former Governor of Florida should enter the poll battle and become the third man in the same family to run for the White House.

A Washington Post report said Jeb was onstage at a gala dinner in Florida’s Bonita Springs where he recalled his mother’s take on his potential presidential bid: “Don’t do it”.

With the two Bushes already serving the presidential post in the past, Brabara seems no more interested in seeing another US president from the Bush family.

In April 2013, Barbara has told a news channel, “We’ve had enough Bushes.”

In January 2014, the former first lady had just echoed down her previously made point saying, “There’s no question in my mind that Jeb is the best qualified person to run for president, but I hope he won’t.”

She made the comment during an interview for the “First Ladies” series of C-SPAN.

But with the passing years, she seems to be softening her opposition over the entire issue.

In an October 2014 interview, Jeb said that his mother had “been around the track on his presidential idea”.

“She just believes that it’s something that she doesn’t want my family to go through, although she’s changed her mind on that. So I’m marking her down to `neutral, trending in a different direction’ than she was,” he had said a channel at that time.

At a recent fundraising dinner, Brabara made a short appearance on Skype saying, “Jeb, it’s Mom. Listen, what do you mean, ‘too many Bushes’?… I changed my mind!”

With Jeb now enjoying his mom’s support over his presidential ambitions, it would be interesting to watch how the turn of events works for the Republican leader in the United States which is gradually moving into the poll mode.

Joe Biden stirs up presidential speculation with Iowa visit

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Stirring up serious speculations over his presidential bid in 2016, US Vice President Joe Biden has announced his visit to Iowa next week.

The White House has announced that the American Vice President will be arriving Des Moines on Thursday to tout the set of economical policies of President Barack Obama-led administration at Drake University.

According to the White House officials, the US Vice President is also scheduled to participate in a roundtable talks at Des Moines Area Community College. The officials said that Biden is expected to discuss President Obama’s proposal to offer free community college to the students in the United States.

Meanwhile, Biden’s visit to early caucus state of Iowa has sparked speculation in the political corridors of the country over his presidential bid in 2016 elections.

The political analysts said that the 72-year-old leader can make up to the post as the oldest president if he is elected in 2016 elections. If voted to power, Biden would take the charge of the office at age 74. Biden will then break the record of former President Ronald Reagan, who had assumed the office at age 69.

Even though Biden has not officially revealed his mind over his poll ambitions, but during a January interview he has said that there exists “a chance” of him running for president in 2016, regardless of the decision of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his fellow Democrat who is also seen as a frontrunner for the party nominee.

“But I haven’t made my mind up about that. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then. There’s plenty of time,” Biden had said.

A recent poll of voters in Iowa showed Biden trailing both Clinton and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Democrat Barbara Boxer announces retirement ahead of 2016 elections

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US Senator and California Democrat Barbara Boxer on Thursday announced her decision to not contest re-election during the 2016 presidential polls.

Boxer, who is among the most powerful liberal voices in the Senate, announced her decision in a video post on her website.

In the video, the 74-year-old leader said that she will not contest the polls and her focus is to insure that only a Democrat replaces her.

“The Senate is the place where I’ve always made my case, for families, for the planet and the human race. Although I won’t be working from my Senate space and I won’t be running in that next tough race, as long as there are issues, challenges and strife… I will never retire, because that’s the meaning of my life.” Boxer said.

Boxer is the first senator who has declared her retirement ahead of the 2016 elections.

She will now be working towards gathering support for the Democrats to ensure their win in the elections. According to the video, she will use her fundraising committee, PAC For a Change, for supporting Democratic candidates.

Since 1993, she had been serving in the Senate. Before this, she was in the US House of Representatives for a decade.

Boxer has always supported the environmental causes and had been a leading voice for its protection. She has also chaired the panel dedicated towards handling issues related to the environment. However, she lost the post after the Republicans took over the control of the Senate in the mid-term election in November last year.

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