Bob Sparks
This week, two more candidates jumped on the elevator heading for the top floor of the executive branch. The announcement on Sunday by Hillary Clinton and on Monday by Marco Rubio brings the number of announced candidates for president of the United States to four.
While several others will follow, it is amazing to look at the field as it now stands. Clinton seeks again to become the first woman president. Ted Cruz and Rubio want to be the first Cuban-American. Alas, Rand Paul can only hope to be the first ophthalmologist.
When Dr. Ben Carson, an African-American, and Carly Fiorina make their expected announcements, the Republican field will be the most diverse in its history. If the Republican nominee is successful in 19 months, that person will be sworn in as the 19th Republican president.
It is rather ironic that such a diverse Republican field grows during the week we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the assassination of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. To this day, Republicans and Democrats use the man who freed the slaves as a talking point symbolizing the ideal president.
And why not? A president who does what is right instead of what is politically expedient is worthy of following.
Imagine Twitter being around during Lincoln’s time. Who wouldn’t be a follower of @HonestAbe?
Lincoln would likely appreciate the thought of a man of African descent winning the presidency twice. He might give President Barack Obama a few pointers on ways to unite Americans instead of practicing divisive politics, but still embrace the breakthrough Obama’s election represented.
Today’s party of Lincoln is unquestionably right of center. To be sure, some in the party are further to the right, but that permits a broad debate on the pressing issues of our time.
On the other side of the Republican debate are those who present themselves as fiscally conservative while socially moderate or liberal. Providing the candidates avoid a circular firing squad, the primaries will help produce an eventual GOP nominee that is tested and ready to run against Clinton.
Clinton’s sycophants can spin all they want, but the former secretary of state has a record and campaign style that will expose someone not ready for primetime on the presidential stage. Democrats fear this is true, which is why 80 percent of respondents in this week’s USA Today poll feel it is “very important” or “somewhat important” Clinton receive a strong intra-party challenge.
The would-be first woman president apparently wants to focus on equal pay and helping the middle class. That is all well and good, but a social media launch and a road trip in the Scooby-do van seemed a bit underwhelming for a presidential candidate.
MSNBC’s Chris Mathews and other liberals are openly questioning Clinton’s lack of a compelling reason for her candidacy other than her gender. “I want to be the first woman president” is just as insufficient today as it was in 2008. With Obama’s approval ratings underwater, perhaps she could go with “Hope” and “Change.”
Crafting presidential history should center on the way a candidate governs, not gender or ethnicity. Though the GOP field is becoming more diverse, expect to see a focus on policy alternatives to the current administration. Reversing course on the dangerous Obama/Clinton/Kerry foreign policy cannot come soon enough.
Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and other Republicans will join the race, bringing their unique perspectives and ideas to the forum. Clinton and her experience with foreign policy and advocacy for wealth redistribution will define her party’s agenda.
Yes, Democrats have done well in presidential years when their voters were energized. They certainly were in 2008, but less so in 2012. No one should expect anything like 2008-like excitement for Clinton.
Will tons of money and shrewd strategy help overcome that? Part of it depends upon whom the Republicans nominate.
The Florida primary will be a huge prize on March 15, 2016. Both Rubio and Bush realize that if either of them loses their home state primary, their campaigns will be in deep Scooby do-do.
One of the GOP candidates could receive well under 50 percent of the vote, yet earn a plurality and win all of Florida’s delegates. Could Bush and Rubio take votes away from each other, thereby allowing another candidate to earn that plurality? Probably not.
Whatever happens, 2016 will sport a diverse Republican field carrying their own strengths and weaknesses. There is a mixture of young faces and seasoned leaders. Any number of them can run a strong race against Clinton.
None of this guarantees a GOP victory in 2016, but the party of Lincoln stands a strong chance of recapturing the White House. They should find success by making the defeat Clinton their top priority and refrain from holding their nominee captive to a single issue standard.
What was it Lincoln said about a house divided?
Bob Sparks is a business and political consultant based in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
