The 2016 Presidential Election is almost upon us.  That may seem strange to some, as a mere look at the calendar would tell you Election Day is more than two-and-a-half years away.  I will be a junior in college on inauguration day!  But the fact is, we have evolved into what is almost a permanent campaign cycle.  No sooner does the President say the Oath of Office, the buildup to the next election starts, and before the President is half finished with his term, the campaigning starts in earnest. The storm has not quite started, but the American people will soon begin to be bombarded by billboards, TV adds, pamphlets, and other such paraphernalia.  So who will be running in 2016?  Whose faces will we see plastered everywhere for the next two years?  Who are the favorites?  The challengers?

We shall begin with the incumbent party, the Democrats.

1.)  Hillary Clinton – The favorite from the Democrats, and arguably overall, at this stage of the game, Hillary is clearly setting herself up for a second run at the Oval Office.  She has always been popular amongst liberals, and after a term as Secretary of State, her candidacy has been bolstered since 2008.  She has many ties to Obama, however, something that could come back to bite her.

2.)  Joe Biden – The Vice President is also looking into a bid for the Presidency.  Biden clearly has experience, from his six terms as a Delaware Senator, his various committee memberships, and two terms as the Veep.  And yet Biden has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, his gaffes include calling Obamacare “a big f&#%ing deal,” to saying that J-O-B-S is a three letter word.  As a result, he has gotten a reputation as incompetent, and be that fair or not, it will hurt him in a campaign.

3.)  Andrew Cuomo – Our own Governor Cuomo is also known to be considering a bid for the nation’s highest office.  A Washington outsider, the youngest of the serious Democratic candidates, and experienced in a variety of political roles, Cuomo could pose quite a threat to the two heavy hitters above.  However, his New York governorship has seen him take a turn for the left, most notably on gun rights, which will be his Achilles heel with Independents.

And then the Republicans:

1.)  Chris Christie – The fiery, outspoken governor of New Jersey is widely acknowledged to be the Republican frontrunner.  His speech at the Republican National Convention in 2012 and his handling of Hurricane Sandy thrust him into the public view as a tough, moderate Republican, and recent polls have him running with Clinton for the lead.

2.)  Bobby Jindal – The Governor of Louisiana is a rising star in the Republican party, and while he is isn’t as well known as Christie, he has received endorsements from prominent Republicans, including John McCain.  He is more conservative than Christie, but his Indian background brings much needed diversity to the mainly white Republican Party.

3.)  Ted Cruz – The junior Senator from Texas has been the focus of a storm of controversy recently, with some accusing him of holding the government hostage, and some hailing him as a hero.  Cruz is no moderate, a maverick Tea Party favorite who stands up for his beliefs no matter what, qualities that make him a conservative darling but will hurt him among Independents in a general election.  On the other hand, Cruz is of Hispanic descent, and will attract more Hispanics back into the Republican fold, something that is desperately needed.