Which GOP candidate will run against Hillary next year?

After watching her during Tuesday night’s Democratic debate, it is clear Hillary Clinton will be my party’s presidential nominee next year.  What’s not so clear is who will end up being her Republican opponent. 

Personally, I don’t think it will be today’s GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.  While he is popular with Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary voters, he isn’t among the rank and file coast to coast.  If I’m right, then which candidate has what it takes to win against Clinton? 

Initially I thought it would be Jeb Bush; but, lately I’ve been second-guessing myself.  Despite his early fund-raising advantage, Bush has been steadily dropping in the polls for weeks.  Dr. Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina both have enjoyed post-debate bumps in the polls, but it’s too early to tell if they have staying power. 

As for Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), Gov. Chris Christie (N.J.) or Mike Huckabee, many of the people who know them best in Kentucky, New Jersey and Arkansas, believe they should end their national campaigns now.  This leaves Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Gov. John Kasich (Ohio) and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas).  I think one or more of them will break out soon. 

Even though this seems like the year of the outsider, in the end I predict quintessential insider Clinton will square off against a Republican who is equally connected to Washington.  Rubio, Kasich and Cruz fit that bill.  They also have friends with deep pockets willing to support them with cash.

Typically, in the early stages of a presidential campaign, it’s OK to be angry, especially if you have been out of the White House for nearly eight years.  What’s not OK is to rely on that anger to carry you to victory. 

With this last thought in mind, I wonder when the Republicans will pivot from the party of no to the party of optimism.  They’re going to need a barrel full of it if they want to beat my candidate, Hillary Clinton, in 2016.

Freidenrich writes from Laguna Beach, California.  He served as a congressional staff assistant on Capitol Hill in 1972.