2016 Republican Power Rankings: Separating the Clowns from the Real Contenders

This election year, where straw polls seem to defy all common sense as well as the “laws of presidential nominations,” Republican voters must remember one important thing: It does not matter who you like, campaign for, or donate to, if that candidate cannot beat Hillary Clinton.  

Republicans must choose from the handful of candidates who both uphold conservative values and can capture moderates and independents who are turned off by Hillary’s big government cronyism or Bernie’s destructive socialism. More importantly, Republicans must reject the “clowns” of the race—those who eat up donations, take up air time of serious candidates, and spew false promises that they could never fulfill.

As great as it would be to have 536 clones of Ted Cruz, the most consistent conservative in government today, fill up the ranks of the House, Senate, and Oval Office, that is simply not an attainable reality.

The following devised rankings are only for the eyes of the sane and prudent Republican. One who is pragmatic rather than idealistic. One who recognizes the necessity of “compromising” certain conservative values in order to protect greater ones. One who believes in an less-than-ideal win rather than a principled loss.

The Clowns:

10. Donald Trump – Do you scoff each time you hear your delusional liberal friend hail Bernie Sanders as a serious candidate that can realistically win the presidency? Well, that’s the same reaction Democrats give Trump supporters, and they aren’t wrong in doing so. Sure, Trump’s candidacy exemplifies a much-needed crusade against the current era of political correctness and free speech censorship, but does this translate into an electoral victory? Absolutely not. As his support among Hispanics and women, two significant voting blocs, drastically dives down, he becomes more unelectable with each word that comes out of his mouth. He would surely find more success in a “Rush Limbaugh”-styled commentary role than a presidential one.

9. Mike Huckabee – Given how quickly public opinion of gay marriage changed in the past ten years, social conservatism is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Huckabee, the standard-bearer of a economic populism and archaic social views, epitomizes the past rather than the future, as the youth generation becomes increasingly libertarian. The man is an passionate speaker and effective debater, so it’s unfortunate that he himself stands no chance of winning. Perhaps if he gave Jeb some of his rhetorical magic, the Republicans would stand a much better chance.

8. Rand Paul – Rand Paul was once named on the cover of Time Magazine as “The Most Interesting Man in American Politics.” He was hailed as the one that would fundamentally change the landscape of the Republican Party, the one who can bridge the gaps between liberals and conservatives. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. His fragile libertarian base has almost completely evaporated since Trump and Carson started capturing momentum. On the debate stage, he tries hard to come across as the adult in the room, but his rhetoric simply does not energize anybody in the room. Paul is still able to distinguish himself from the other Republicans in the race—but just not as a winner.

7. Ted Cruz – As a champion debater during his time at Princeton, Cruz is one of the most fluent speakers on the stage. However, his debate coach forgot to warn him to not come across as a an melodramatic televangelist with his obviously-rehearsed speeches. GOP Primary debates aside, general election voters won’t forget Cruz’s record of Tea Party extremism and his name will be synonymous with the government shutdown, thereby obstructing him from winning any swing states. Also, his frequent altercations with the GOP establishment certainly doesn’t help his case.

6. Chris Christie – Similar to Huckabee, Chris Christie is a powerful, commanding speaker and has a very heavy stage presence. His pragmatic political stances reflect a perfect intersection and compromise between liberal and conservative viewpoints. Unfortunately, his weak favorability among both primary voters and the general public will cause him to sink early.

5. Ben Carson – As difficult as it is to place such a intellectual being in the “clown” category, it is the harsh truth in regards to Ben Carson’s presidential run. Although Carson’s calm, collected rhetoric allows him to garner support from anti-establishment voters that are turned off by Trump’s audacious style, he simply does not have the qualities that embody a successful presidential candidate. He has demonstrated little to no knowledge of foreign policy issues and is very gaffe-prone. For most of the debate, he would talk about his neurosurgeon career and then dance around addressing the actual issues. Can anyone imagine Carson taking on Hillary on the national debate stage and actually stand a chance of winning? Much like Herman Cain’s short-lived campaign in 2012, Carson’s popularity exemplifies the Republican version of Affirmative Action—where competence does not match popularity.

The Real Contenders:

4. John Kasich – It’s often said that in presidential elections, Ohio’s vote is the only one that matters. As a moderate conservative that has two terms under his belt in the most important swing-state, Ohio governor John Kasich is a momentous candidate that can easily win the nomination and sway the outcome of the presidential race. While Kasich should certainly develop a more energetic message to avoid the Jon Huntsman syndrome, his solid record as a slasher of government spending, and his willingness to compromise (a quality admired by many but shared by few) will resonate well with conservative-leaning independents in crucial swing states like New Hampshire.

3. Carly Fiorina – In a GOP primary where outsiders dominate the polls, Carly is the perfect candidate to link together the populist voters with the Republican establishment and bring everyone on the same united front against the Democrats. Her presence on the debate stage is commanding and her demonstrated knowledge of tough policy issues will allow her to hold her own in a debate against Hillary.

2. Jeb Bush – Jeb has all the factors that would make his presidential run successful: establishment support, big-money donors, conservative gubernatorial record, and an organized campaign structure. Most of the other candidates can’t claim even two of Bush’s advantages. He also owns Florida, speaks fluent Spanish, and can appeal to moderates turned off by the far-right extremeness of the rest of the GOP field. If Jeb becomes more energetic and crafts a compelling campaign message, he can become the GOP’s best chance to reclaim the presidency.

1. Marco Rubio – The Rising Star. The Future of the Republican Party. No matter what you want to call Rubio, there is no denying that he is the strongest candidate in the race right now. Rubio has a compelling life story that can easily connect with voters. His debate performance has been consistently phenomenal. He is not plagued by slip-ups and gaffes like the rest of the field. With the way things are going, don’t be surprised if you see a Rubio/Fiorina ticket in the future.