Political landscape for 2020
The 2016 election cycle is behind us and Democrats, after licking their wounds, will be looking towards the 2018 midterms, which could alter the Congressional landscape and the White House agenda, but not its occupant.
Should Hillary Clinton decide to run in 2020, it would be unusual for politics, but less so for the Clinton family. As Trump himself admitted about his 2016 general election oponent: she never gives up. As old as she is, a 2020 presidential run would have been all but guaranteed, had she won in 2016 and Trump will not be significantly younger. A 2016 rematch would not be as unthinkable or extraordinary as some commentators would suggest.
The presumption that a Vice Presidential candidate will attempt to become the standard bearer for the party could prove accurate in this case. The same qualities, character traits and a wider national name recognition this time around make Kaine a likely candidate in 2016.
The idea of a woman President had for months firmly taken root in mainstream media and in the hearts of a lot of voters who felt it was time for America's women growing up, to see that inspiring vision come to fruition. In combination with the large group of voters that feel that President-elect Trump has been a dissappointment when it comes to his public attitude towards women, the women of leadership in the DNC are well positioned for a presidential run. Merge Bernie Sanders policies and ideas with Hillary's experience, proximity to party faithful and governance acumen, and your dream candidate would resemble Elizabeth Warren. Battle tested by a tough senate race against a popular and populist republican, Elizabeth Warren is indeed a favorite of the DNC at this early point. Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Michele Obama could also prove strong candidates.
Among the governor class, Martin O'Malley and Deval Patrick could be ready to take the show on the road. Billed Billed as rising stars, both Castro brothers and Cory Booker bring somewaat of a national profile and party base which could connect with the Obama coalition.
Power Politics has been enthusiastic about Elizabeth Warren for a while now. The missing piece seemed to be a willingness to go negative when it was needed, in particular towards individuals, as her toughness and straightforwardness in battling institutions was widely on display before her senate run. However, engaging with Scott Brown during her senate run and attacking Donald Trump during the 2016 cycle proved to us, that Elizabeth Warren will not hide behind the "they go low, we go high" mantra which backfired during a brutally ad hominem political season this year.
