My Early Presidential Preference List

In the early, early going (as in, one person is running formally), it's hard to have much of an opinion on the Presidential race. Unlike eight years ago at this time, no one is formally in, and no one is out doing anything too public. That will start to change very soon obviously, probably after the New Year.

In the meanwhile, I have kind of a pre-race preference list on the Democratic side. It's kind of guess work at this point, but I do think it represents my form of thinking on this race. Here it is.

1. Hillary Clinton- She is simply the most qualified candidate in the race. There would be no "learning curve" for her in office, no period where she was under any illusions of the challenges she would face from the American-Right. She brings in the immediate foreign policy qualifications as a successful and productive Secretary of State from a period of time in which we drew down our war activities and engaged the world after a period in which the world did not approve of us very much (the now forgotten Bush years). She was out ahead on health care reform two decades ago, brings a level-headed, sober-minded approach to setting policy, and is the candidate I trust most to both preserve the victories of this administration, and get passed legislation on immigration, infrastructure, and other pressing issues we can't get passed now. I also think she represents the "get things done" spirit that voters are going to look for in 2016, and very few other leaders can present credibly. She's also our most electable candidate, and married to the most popular politician in the country. 
2. Joe Biden- Uncle Joe, you ask? Well, for all of Biden's faults, mostly created by his own gaffes, the man is probably the second most qualified person we could put up for President. Biden is a brilliant foreign policy mind, who also served in a senior role in the judiciary appointment process as a Senator. Biden may have his gaffes, but I think he relates well to common, working-class voters, and would surprise people. As for his supposedly unelectable status, is that really true? He's been on the ticket for two big victories. I mean, Al Gore nearly won from the Veep's office, George H.W. Bush did win from the job, and are either of them really that much more talented candidates than Joe? I'd say not.
3. Elizabeth Warren- I want to put Warren lower, but can't. The truth is, no one else in the party who is rumored to want to run would drum up more energy than her besides arguably the first two. Warren is right on all the issues, she excites the activists, and her message is pretty good- the little guy is getting screwed. I think she's a tremendously flawed messenger in reaching voters beyond our activist base, in part because I think her professorial style is over their head, and in part because I think her message is more pure than the average voter actually wants to see things. I'm not crazy about Warren the way many are, personally, but she's a better candidate than anyone not above her on this list.
4. Jim Webb- I think Webb is almost as qualified as the top two, more so than even Warren, to be President. I am not bothered by his somewhat moderate background, as he showed he could win a tough race in Virginia (albeit, in 2006). The problem I have with Webb is that i'm not sure what his hook or reasoning is to be in this race. He can't credibly claim to be leftist, and he can't really go to Hillary's right and find a big enough base to win.
5. Bernie Sanders- If Warren doesn't run, I could re-consider saying this, but why would he run? I mean, really, is Warren not enough of a lefty for him? Probably not. I hope he does run in the primary process, and not as an independent candidate. I also think he can put some great issues on the table in the primary. I just don't see him being able to win at all.
6. Martin O'Malley- I should probably be more into this guy. He's supposedly really good in the small settings that he'll need to be good in out in Iowa or in New Hampshire. He was a solid governor too. I think his inability to get his Lt. Governor elected to succeed him hurt him with me. Second off, I don't see him drumming up the kind of energy and enthusiasm the candidates in front of him can. If Hillary were to not run for some reason, I might give him a better look.
7. Joe Manchin- His name is actually coming up a lot more, and I don't get why. If Webb has positioning issues, Manchin has them on steroids. I kinda like the guy, but run for President? I don't know there.
8. Brian Schweitzer- My feeling is his decision to not run for Senate in 2014 gives me red-flags for some reason. So do some of his dumb comments earlier this year. I don't see a way forward for him.

Now if Hillary does not run, I'd also like to see Mark Warner and Deval Patrick take a look at the race. At this point though, if Hillary runs, I'm pretty well set.