WASHINGTON, July 18 — The decline of John McCain's presidential campaign, and the rising profile of Fred D. Thompson as a prospective contender, are forcing candidates to rewrite their strategies as they adjust to a playing field vastly different from just one month ago.
The question going into the 2016 Republican presidential primary is whether the prospective contender is strong enough to withstand the persistent criticism over his handling of the state's recovery.
Clinton and other prospective contenders for the 2016 Democratic nomination, such as vice-president Joe Biden, former Virginia senator Jim Webb and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, are all within a few years of 70, critics have warned.
Prospective contenders could include the writers Joe Klein, author of Primary Colours, Jay MacInnerny, author of Bright Lights, Big City, Elizabeth Wurtzel, author of Prozac Nation, and, of course, David Remnick, the New Yorker 's editor since Tina Brown moved on.
The Conservative Victory Project, which will be run by Steven J. Law, Mr. Rove and the donors who built American Crossroads into the largest Republican super PAC of the 2012 election cycle, will start by intensely vetting prospective contenders for Congressional races.
The purpose of the event and others that are planned in coming weeks, Mr. Gore's associates said, was to court these important fund-raisers, and put them on notice -- without saying so explicitly -- that they should not defect to other prospective contenders.
The Conservative Victory Project, which is backed by Karl Rove and his allies who built American Crossroads into the largest Republican super PAC of the 2012 election cycle, will start by intensely vetting prospective contenders for Congressional races to try to weed out candidates who are seen as too flawed to win general elections.
To help get you better acquainted with the folks who are now making the hike out onto the campaign trail, we've assembled a slideshow of current candidates and prospective contenders.
While there was criticism in some quarters of Mr. McAuliffe, most was focused on elected officials -- in particular, Mr. Gephardt and Tom Daschle, the Senate majority leader, another prospective presidential contender for 2004.
Even though no prospective presidential contender has formally declared a candidacy, a robust amount of behind-the-scenes activity is under way, particularly in the courtship of advisers, supporters and contributors.
But, these advisers argue, the former senator is in a much stronger position now, coming off his 2012 run at least as strong a position as any other prospective GOP contender.
