2016 Campaign Watch

The Washington Times reports on former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s potential problem rallying evangelical Christians, a key constituency in the Republican Party, to his 2016 presidential campaign:

Jeb Bush misfires with evangelicals over gay marriage supporters in inner circle

Jeb Bush’s latest effort to court evangelical voters boomeranged when a Christian radio network boss challenged him for hiring two political aides who support same-sex marriage, and the former Florida governor conceded that he couldn’t identify any “genuine” conservatives in his inner circle.

The ...

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is expected to announce today he is running for President in 2016, bringing to six the number of Republicans who have declared their candidacies. Bloomberg Politics has a ‘scouting report’ on Huckabee that summarizes some of his strengths and vulnerabilities:

The Definitive Mike Huckabee Scouting Report

What he’s got: Affability, humor, and folksy charm galore; arguably the best communication skills—on TV, on the stump, or in retail settings—of any Republican 2016er; executive experience as a two-term-plus Arkansas governor; ...

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson launched his campaign for the Republican nomination today in his hometown of Detroit. The Hill reports on his announcement:

Carson launches bid by knocking ‘kingmakers’ and politicians

Ben Carson launched his GOP bid for the White House on Monday by ripping members of both parties and insisting he is the true outsider candidate of 2016.

Carson, a conservative favorite who became a right-wing hero by criticizing President Obama’s policies at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, took shots at ...