Little bit early for this thread. We need to know the nominations first! The Election proper is slightly over 1 year away, which is a long time in politics.

I'm very wary of a Clinton presidency taking shape in the exact same mold that George H. W. Bush won the presidency in 1988.

Don't get me wrong, Obama is no Reagan and we're not living in a strong Reagan recovery. BUT the unemployment number is down (although so, too, is the Labor Participation which is at it's lowest rate since Carter! Very bad), and Obama's approval ratings have rebounded a bit (although still firmly in the negatives) which makes the *current* environment a bit precarious.

But keep in mind, the electorate likes a change after 8 years of one president. The Democrats couldn't even keep the White House after the boom of the Clinton years (And if you want to contest that Al Gore technically won, let me counter by saying it should never have even been that close to begin with!).

Also, please don't take any polls seriously right now. Polls are absolutely meaningless this far out.

Bernie Sanders. Thank you and goodnight.

The Americans'll never vote Trump in. Johnson however, is of course a very real possibility. As frightening as that sounds, will it really be much worse than what we've got at the moment? Ignoring Johnson's clown mask and his bumbling exterior, they're basically the same... 

So far I've voted for:

2004 - George W. Bush (sorry)
2008 - Barack Obama
2012 - Rocky Anderson

I'm more than happy to vote for Bernie Sanders in the general election if he makes it, but I think the establishment Dems are trying to sabotage him as much as the GOP is trying to sabotage Trump. Part of me wants to see Sanders vs. Trump just for that reason. Trump getting that far would be an embarrassment in its own right, for sure, but I think after we've seen Sarah Palin get within an old man's ticker of the presidency, that horse has already left the barn.

If it's Hilary, then I might just vote third party again. Not that I hate Hilary so much, but I believe in voting my conscience and supporting people I actually want. I won't vote just to keep the other guy out anymore.

Not a cats hell in chance Bernie Sanders will win (certainly not the presidency), neither Trump. Ones too leftwing for America, and the other is far too righwing. In the event either of them do win the nomination, then they have to yield the support of independents - which is the majority of voters in America, and who are predominantly centre ground in their views.

Being realistic for both parties, I personally think the strongest candidates - at the moment - are both women. Carly Firoina was by far the most capable speaker at the Republican debate a few nights back, while Clinton is going unchallenged. Keep an eye out on Fiorina - a women becoming their candidate provides them with an opportunity to be seen as progressive for the first time in 15 years (Bush - prior to the popular image of a warmonger who destroyed the economy - actually ran on a persuasive platform in 2000 that was more centrist than any Republican had been, with all that 'Compassionate Conservatism' tag). But also, it helps in that she was a college drop out and was a receptionist before asking her way into politics, so that kind of humble background is gold dust for candidates as they can often portray themselves as embodiments of the American Dream as a result.

If I had to vote personally, I'd go for Joe Biden and I'd like to see him run. Not being American, I don't know anything about his domestic policies but in foreign policy - which is pretty much how we judge US presidents in the UK - he has good ideas on Iraq such as a federal structure there to ease the pressures of sectarianism. But let's be honest, a lot of its to do with the personality of the candidate and Biden has more appeal than most candidates, and comes across as more human than even Bernie Sanders, even in 2012 his debating skill was better than Obama's. And considering Clinton is seen as short on personality and quite cold, that may seriously damage her chances.

I read this, but I didn't need to. I've been telling people for weeks that the race for the GOP nomination is following the norm. (Although, I would still love for Mitt to reconsider). #politicalscientist #GW

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/09/23/whatever_happened_to_the_strong_republican_field_128185.html

Hope springs eternal, innit. #Romney16

www.the-newshub.com/us-politics/mitt-romney-ready-to-steal-republican-presidential-nomination

Seeing how desperate it is for the Republican candidates, Romney must be looking at it as very appealing. The party delegates usually see sense and go for the more centrist candidate as opposed to the nutjobs like Trump and Carson don't they? I just cannot believe in a million years that Trump would become the Republican candidate let alone President. Surely not....

Here's a secret: I'm not even registered to vote! Ha!

But Trump won't be the nominee. Nor will Carson. If Romney doesn't get involved (and I don't think he will, although I'd bloody love it), I'm almost 100% certain it will be Jeb.

I like Bernie and would certainly vote for him, but I don't think he has a legitimate shot in the general election. An old, unkempt Brooklyn Jewish socialist and senator from Vermont? Yeah. Good luck with that in Alabama or Kansas.

With Jeb Bush's campaign looking so insipid, I'm close to jumping ship to Marco Rubio. I think he's the next best option, and I'd be able to get behind him.

Still wish Mitt would just fucking run, for fuck's sake.