Santorum Organizing; Warren Buffet Supporting Hillary in '16
Inside sources close to Rick Santorum are saying the former Pennsylvania senator and 2012 GOP contender is already organizing for a run in 2016. On the other side of the aisle, investor Warren Buffett is already touting his choice to succeed President Obama in the White House.
A leading evangelical leader who is close to Santorum and asked not to be identified, told The Christian Post on Wednesday that Santorum is "organizing and making all the necessary preparations" for another run in the 2016 Republican primary.
"Rick's getting ready organized and is not going to be behind the eight-ball when it comes to fundraising and building a grassroots organization," the anonymous source said. "I think you'll see and hear a lot from Rick in the next 12 months."
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Santorum fought off a number of fellow conservatives that included Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and restaurant executive Herman Cain to be one of the last standing against Mitt Romney. Only Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) stayed in the race longer but he was never considered a major contender to win the nomination.
Soon after the election was over, Santorum and his team sent out an email to supporters hinting of another run and indicated that he and his wife Karen would be working to rebuild a party splintered by ideology and infighting about why minorities and young women are peeling away from the GOP platform.
"As a result of this election," Santorum wrote, "we now need to engage with even more energy and commitment not just in politics, but in our daily lives, to ensure that the values upon which our country has prospered will continue." And here is the kicker: "Karen and I look forward to working side by side with you to make that happen."
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) – considered one of the GOP's rising stars – wasted little time signaling his possible interest by making a trip to Iowa even before all the votes in Florida were counted. Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan would certainly be mentioned as another possible contender for the White House.
But don't think it's only the GOP who spend time looking into a four-year crystal ball.
Mega-investor Warren Buffett has already indicated the person he hopes replaces Obama at 1600 Pennsylvania and an easy hint is they have lived there before.
"I hope it's Hillary Clinton," Buffett, the fourth richest man in the world, told CNN on Wednesday. "I like what she believes in. I think she's extraordinarily able and energetic for that matter in pushing those beliefs. I don't see how you could have anybody better qualified."
Speculation in Washington is that Clinton will soon vacate her position as Secretary of State, giving her more time to reacquaint herself with major Democratic donors and state party officials.
Clinton came in second to Obama in a rough-and-tumble primary in 2008.
