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NEW DELHI: Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana recently announced that he will be running for President. The news sparked interest in India, as Jindal, 44, was elected as America’s first Indian-American governor in 2007. Since then, Jindal’s popularity ratings have plummeted, leaving him almost as unpopular with his own party folk amongst the Republicans as with the Democrats.
With Jindal’s announcement, at least 13 Republican candidates are running for President, with an addition three who are probably running. Amongst the Democrats, four have confirmed their candidacy and another one -- Jim Webb -- is probably running.
Here is a cheat sheet into the 2016 US Presidential Election:
The Republicans
1. Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal is the outgoing governor of Louisiana, a former Rhodes scholar, and a convert from Hinduism to Christianity. Over the years, his popularity ratings have plummeted and let’s be serious, no one expects him to win.
2. Donald Trump
Donald Trump is better known as a real estate tycoon and reality TV star, and let’s be honest (again), no one takes him seriously as a politician. He’s not going to win and if you’re laughing at his decision to run -- buddy the joke is on you. Trump knows he isn’t going to win. He’s running to enhance his brand and image As an article in The Daily Beast correctly states: “He’s playing to his fans and there are many millions of them. They like him on television and they like his real estate and golf courses.” And they like that he’s announced that he is running (whether he does so in the end or not).
3. Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush is political royalty. He is the brother and father of Presidents and served two terms as governor of Florida, from 1999 to 2007. Can he win? Possibly.
4. Rick Perry
Perry is George W Bush’s successor as governor of Texas. He is popular with Texans, small government conservatives, immigration hardlines … basically the Republican party. Can he win? Possibly.
5. Lindsey Graham
Graham is John McCain’s closest ally amongst the group of Republicans who are more moderate on everything except foreign policy. Can he win? Nope, and he knows it. He seems to be running to ensure there is a more moderate voice in the primary.
6. George Pataki
Pataki served three terms as governor of New York, and no, he can’t win.
7. Rick Santorum
Santorum represented Pennsylvania in the Senate from 1995 until his defeat in 2006. Another one who isn’t going to win.
8. Mike Huckabee
Huckabee is a preacher, former governor of Arkansas, and Fox News host. His chances for winning hinge on his ability to contend with a new breed of social conservatives, such as Ted Cruz.
9. Ben Carson
Carson is former head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and became popular with the Republicans for his position against Obamacare. Can he win? Nope. He’s never run a political campaign and his politics are all over the place. So over the place that he once compared the Islamic State to the Founding Fathers.
10. Carly Fiorina
Fiorina is former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and former advisor to John McCain. She also cannot win.
11. Marco Rubio
Rubio, according to some, is the Republican frontrunner, whose popularity pins on the fact that he can emerge as a consensus candidate for social conservatives and hawks.
12. Rand Paul
Rand Paul is the Kentucky Senator, and a fairly unorthodox Republican. He’s okay with drug use, liberal about civil liberties, and calls for restraint on foreign policy. Can he win? Umm, we don’t know.
13. Ted Cruz
Cruz was deputy assistant attorney general in the George W. Bush administration and was appointed Texas solicitor general in 2003. Can he win? Can the underdog win? Even if he’s entirely clueless about science and thinks denies climate change?
The Democrats
1. Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton is wife of former US President Bill Clinton (as if you didn’t know that) but she is also a trained attorney, former secretary of state, and former senator of New York. Can she win? Obvio.
2. Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee is the son of Rhode Island politician John Chafee and he cannot win.
3. Martin O'Malley
He’s a former governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore, and he probably will not win.
4. Bernie Sanders
Sanders is a self professed socialist and represents the left of the democrats. He also probably will not win (blame Clinton) although he has managed to poll well -- into double digits.
