morning

Wednesday November 9, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday November 9, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 9, 2016

Even before 2016 is over, the race for 2020 is well underway

Long before the first polling places opened on Election Day 2016, the race for the 2020 Republican presidential nomination was already underway.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 7, 2012 'The beginning of a new era in America' Pharmacy's poll finds split between headache and anger reliefÊ President Barack Obama's re-election Ñ in a ferocious campaign dotted by charges of racial anger and minority-voter suppression Ñ hasÊprovided what many blacks say will surely deepen his legacy: irrefutable evidence that his presidency is hardly a historical fluke as he hasÊnow won two national campaigns with overwhelming white support. Obama, the nation's first black president, was already soaked in history, a figure seen in the aftermath of his 2008 victory as theÊculmination of a decades-long civil rights crusade that suffered the assassination of beloved figures who fought and marched for the rightÊto vote and freely pursue the American dream. But Obama's first term as president also saw him pelted with racially charged denunciations Ñ some from politicians Ñ that reopenedÊfestering wounds and even fears in the African American community for his safety. At times it felt as if the W.E.B. Du Bois prophecy ÑÊthe problem of the 20th century would be the color line, he famously opined Ñ had leapt right into the 21st century. "In many ways," said Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture,Ê"Obama's reelection can be seen as resilience on the part of the African American community." But Bunch admitted that he felt, as did many blacks in the waning weeks of the campaign, that Obama Ñ despite accomplishments in theÊwar on terrorism, a strengthening economy and passage of a universal-health-care law Ñ had been mercilessly castigated. There was jubilation on the streets of Washington with Obama's re-election. Janice Brown, 30, a staffing consultant who lives in Suitland,ÊMd., stood in a corner of Busboys and Poets restaurant, excited and relieved. "It's awesome for America. Not only is he a great leader, butÊhe is in

November 7, 2012

It has been unfolding in early primary states, where potential candidates have been introducing or reintroducing themselves. It has been on display in purple battlegrounds where they are helping in down-ballot contests. And behind the scenes, would-be contenders have sought face time with party power brokers eager to size them up.

“I think it’s already happening now,” said Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), a veteran GOP strategist. Cole identified another significant way the prospective candidates are laying a foundation: by embracing or shunning Donald Trump.

“You’ve seen some pretty dramatic reversals of people deciding they couldn’t be for Trump and they are for Trump. Now, part of that to me is about positioning for presidential contests.”

If Trump loses on Tuesday, Republicans will be forced to choose yet again from a full slate of ambitious candidates-in-waiting with wildly divergent visions for the party’s future. Even if Trump wins, he will begin his presidency far from safe against the threat of a primary challenge, since an ample cross-section of his party has already spoken out against him.

A Trump win would also likely set off a potentially chaotic scramble on the Democratic side to field a challenger in four years. Democrats have failed to build a robust bench during Obama’s presidency, in part because of the down-ballot drubbings the party has experienced in the midterms and partly because Clinton effectively froze the field as she considered her 2016 run.

No Republican has announced they are running in 2020 if Trump loses. Most have avoided even broaching the subject publicly, to avoid appearing presumptuous.

But interviews with more than a dozen Republican strategists, elected officials, donors and rank-and-file voters show that the party has already started pondering its future options and a recognition that the auditions have started.

Among the names most often mentioned are several failed 2016 candidates who eventually — and awkwardly — came around to supporting Trump: Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.).

Some see Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has held firm in his opposition to Trump after losing to him, as a possibility. Republicans are also intrigued by Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.), an early Trump critic. (Source: Washington Post)

 

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay - Wednesday November 9, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay – Wednesday November 9, 2016 (Drawn at midnight before a declared winner)