Feb. 17, 2015, midnight
Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and a surging Scott Walker top Hotline’s new GOP Presidential Power Rankings — in part because they’re that good, and in part because the competition has been so bad.
If you’re going to make mistakes in the presidential race, it’s better to make them early. But Rand Paul and Chris Christie have stumbled so often they’ve slipped from the top-tier slots they occupied in the first round of the Power Rankings we released last month. Walker is moving hard in the opposite direction.
We rank would-be candidates’ chances of winning the Republican nomination based on their individual strengths and weaknesses, political organizations, poll numbers — and on the odds that they even decide to run. No serious candidates are officially running yet. Here’s how it looks if they do:
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush speaks at the Detroit Economic Club February 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan.
National Journal
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks at his election night party November 4, 2014 in West Allis, Wisconsin.
National Journal
Sen. Marco Rubio speaks with the media after delivering remarks during the graduation of small business owners at Miami Dade College on February 9, 2015.
National Journal
Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition convention on January 18, 2015 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
National Journal
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.
National Journal
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie arrives to speak to a group of Republicans at the Dallas County Spring Speaker Series February 9, 2015, in West Des Moines, Iowa.
National Journal
Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.
National Journal
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal campaigns with Florida Governor Rick Scott at The Villages retirement community on November 3, 2014 in The Villages, Florida.
National Journal
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence gestures to the crowd before the 2015 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
National Journal
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum listens to his introduction at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.
National Journal
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee on global challenges and national security strategy on Capitol Hill, January 27, 2015.
National Journal
Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.
National Journal
Dr. Ben Carson speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.
National Journal
Carly Fiorina and her husband Frank Florina at their home in Lorton, Va. on Feb. 3, 2015.
National Journal
Mitt Romney is greeted by fellow Republicans at a dinner during the Republican National Committee's Annual Winter Meeting aboard the USS Midway on January 16, 2015 in San Diego, California.
National Journal
