Chris Christie
"The more the GOP base fumes over his performance, the better he looks to the independents who could actually elect him."
"Christie is everything Romney wasn't: sloppy and blunt and authentic. He also actively started the '16 campaign a week before this Election Day."
"As a Democrat, he's the one that worries me the most."
Marco Rubio
"Thank goodness they'll never nominate him. Please God, give us Paul Ryan — the gift that keeps giving."
"Republicans lost Hispanics by 40 [points]. Another white guy campaigning on conservative issues isn't the answer — it's the problem."
Who would be the strongest Republican presidential nominee in 2016?
REPUBLICANS (88 VOTES)
Jeb Bush: 27%
Chris Christie: 8%
Bobby Jindal: 3%
Susana Martinez: 2%
Rand Paul: 0%
Marco Rubio: 40%
Paul Ryan: 9%
Rick Santorum: 9%
Jeb Bush
"We need someone who can expand our coalition while remaining true to strong conservative Republican principles. Gov. Bush is that man."
"In spite of his last name, Jeb Bush is our best chance of halting the Latino stampede to the Democrats."
Chris Christie
"We need to close gender gap. Like it or not, choice is the only way."
Marco Rubio
"Time for something other than a two-white-guy ticket."
"Without Hispanics, we don't win Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia. Enough said?"
"The Latino Republican version of Obama/Kennedy — he inspires, he's handsome, and what's not to like?"
"It's not just that our party has to reach beyond old white males. More fundamentally, we talk in terms of policies and numbers instead of addressing people's real-life concerns. Rubio is the only one on the list who does that persuasively and relatably."
Paul Ryan
"Youth, energy, ideas, and the ability to communicate."
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