WASHINGTON, D.C.
Diverse group of candidates weighing GOP bid for 2016
Long criticized as the party of old white men, Republicans are seeing a diverse group of people step up for possible contention in the 2016 presidential race.
This class of contenders could include two Hispanic senators, an Indian-American governor, a female business leader, and an African-American neurosurgeon.
In a group that could exceed a dozen Republican White House prospects, all but a few are in their 40s or 50s, while one of the oldest white men is a fluent Spanish speaker whose wife is a native Mexican.
Many Republicans have long pushed for a welcoming “big tent” party.
‘‘This is a diverse nation, and we need to be a diverse party,’’ said Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive and the only Republican woman openly weighing a 2016 bid. ‘‘That doesn’t mean we sacrifice our principles, but it means we need to look like and understand and empathize with the nation.’’
Other possible Republican candidates include: Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas, who are both Hispanic; Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, the first Indian-American governor in the United States; and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and conservative firebrand, who is African-American.
Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor who is exploring a presidential bid, speaks fluent Spanish, is married to a native Mexican, and lists as one of his signature issues an immigration overhaul.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Democrats await word, new approach from Clinton
Speculation has been rampant about the timing of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s expected announcement that she will enter the race for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Some Democrats wanted her to make it official after the party’s dreadful midterm elections. Clinton has scheduled some speeches through March for which she will receive a fee, raising the possibility that she will hold off until spring.
Democratic insiders expect a different approach this time — recall her January 2007 video declaring, ‘‘I’m in to win’’ — that harnesses the grass-roots activists sowed by outside super PACs and allows her to make a big splash in online fund-raising.
‘‘All of these supporters are a ready-made asset, eager to help promote her message and to stand by her in what we can safely expect to be a relentless, even unprecedented, swamp of negativity from her opponents,’’ said Tracy Sefl, an adviser to Ready for Hillary.
During the midterm campaign, Clinton offered hints at what her rationale might be for joining the race. She advocated for middle-class economic prosperity, paid leave for working mothers, and a rise in the minimum wage.
The party’s liberal wing will look for signs that she might offer a brand of economic populism that have made them gravitate to Senator Elizabeth Warren, who says she’s not running in 2016.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Obama says despite protests, race relations have improved
President Obama believes the United States is less racially divided than it was when he took office, despite recent protests over police treatment of black people.
In a recent interview, Obama said mistrust between police and minorities isn’t new. He said it is being talked about more because the proliferation of smartphones allows more interactions to be recorded.
The president said he thinks the issue of race has surfaced in a healthy way.
Obama spoke to NPR News before leaving for his winter vacation in Hawaii. He said it is understandable that many people feel race relations have worsened, pointing to extensive media coverage of protests in Ferguson, Mo., and in New York.