February 27, 2015 – The 2015 sports scene is off and running. It began with a collective “What the Heck?” as Pete Carroll gift wrapped the Lombardi Trophy for the Pats with the most incomprehensible play call in Superbowl history. Next, Novak and Serena gave notice at the Aussie Open that favorites still rule the day in the ATP and WTA. Last week, the NASCAR season fired-up its real season which began with Joey Logano’s win in Daytona. This week, the MLB returns to Florida and Arizona as spring games begin. And just as teams in the NBA and NHL are jockeying for seeding in their respective leagues, and college hoops teams make their final push to be included in the 2015 March Madness bracket, The Bench Jockeys political Hot Stove is heating up for a humdinger of a 2015 in anticipation of general election in 2016 that will chart the future of the United States into the next decade.
In a field as diverse as…. well,… as diverse as a Republican field can be, the Bench Jockeys have released odds for the 2016 nomination. We will keep this tracker up to date as entrants declare and drop out and as political fortunes rise and fall in the GOP.
This year we have the added pleasure of offering the odds (albeit a bookmaker’s dream) for those vying for the nomination on the Democrat ticket. Hint: Hillary Clinton is a presently at 1:7 which will only drift away from a “sure thing” if something surfaces from the investigations involving Benghazi or the foreign government money accepted by the Clinton Foundation.
We have established the odds for every candidate who has either formed an “exploration committee” or may be jumping (or being pushed) into the Democrat and Republican races for the White House.
And now,… ladies and gentlemen,… the nation’s first comprehensive oddsmaker lines for the 2016 nomination.
Democrats
Candidate
|
Age
|
Background
|
Opening Odds
|
Current Odds♤
|
Joseph Biden |
72 |
VP US; Fmr Sen DE |
35:1 |
35:1 |
Hillary Clinton |
67 |
Fmr. US Sen NY; Fmr. US Sec of State |
1:7 |
1:7 |
Jim Webb |
69 |
Fmr US Sen VA |
30:1 |
30:1 |
Martin O’Malley |
52 |
Fmr Gov MD; Fmr. Mayor Baltimore |
25:1 |
25:1 |
Bernie Sanders* |
73 |
US Sen VT; Fmr Rep US House VT |
35:1 |
35:1 |
Mark Warner |
60 |
US Sen VA; Fmr Gov VA |
50:1 |
50:1 |
Elizabeth Warren |
65 |
US Sen MA |
48:1 |
48:1 |
* Registered Ind. may run as a Dem.
♤ Odds updated 3/7/15
Republicans
Candidate
|
Age
|
Background
|
Opening Odds
|
Current Odds♢
|
John Bolton |
66 |
Fmr US Ambassador UN |
75:1 |
75:1 |
Jeb Bush |
62 |
Fmr Gov FL |
7:2 |
7:2 |
Ben Carson |
63 |
No political offices held; neurosurgeon |
22:1 |
30:1 |
Chris Christie |
52 |
Gov NJ |
12:1 |
12:1 |
Ted Cruz |
44 |
US Sen TX |
8:1 |
10:1 |
Carly Fiorina |
60 |
No political offices held, Fmr CEO HP |
50:1 |
50:1 |
Lindsey Graham |
59 |
US Sen SC; Fmr US House Rep SC |
45:1 |
45:1 |
Mike Huckabee |
59 |
Fmr Gov AR |
17:1 |
17:1 |
Bobby Jindal |
43 |
Gov LA; Fmr US House Rep LA |
50:1 |
50:1 |
John Kasich |
62 |
Gov OH; Fmr US House Rep OH |
70:1 |
70:1 |
Rand Paul |
52 |
US Sen KY |
6:1 |
6:1 |
Mike Pence |
55 |
Gov IN, US House Rep IN |
40:1 |
40:1 |
Rick Perry |
64 |
Fmr Gov TX |
18:1 |
18:1 |
Marco Rubio |
43 |
US Sen FL; US House Rep FL |
10:1 |
12:1 |
Rick Santorum |
56 |
Fmr US Sen PA; Fmr US House Rep PA |
45:1 |
45:1 |
Donald Trump |
68 |
No political offices held; CEO Trump |
100:1 |
100:1 |
Scott Walker |
47 |
Gov WI |
9:1 |
9:1 |
|
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♢ Odds updated 3/7/15
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We welcome your comments and feedback and let the posturing begin.