Why a 20-candidate field would actually be great for the GOP in 2016

Democrats seem gleeful. They should be terrified.

Democrats Republicans
(Image credit: Denis Scott/Corbis)

In the past week, several more Republicans, with varying degrees of gravitas, have joined an already crowded field of contenders. Lindsey Graham became the fourth sitting senator to enter the race. Former New York Gov. George Pataki is in, too — despite not having been in office in nearly a decade. Rick Santorum recently announced as well, looking to springboard off of a 2012 runner-up finish. Mike Huckabee is going even farther back, hoping to springboard off of his 2008 runner-up status.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has made it clear he intends on entering. His counterpart in Michigan, Rick Snyder, has a national speaking tour planned to showcase his so-far-successful rescue of Detroit, just coincidentally as the presidential sweepstakes heats up. Other sitting governors, like Susana Martinez and Nikki Haley, younger and perhaps better positioned to inspire voters, have stayed quiet but could jump into the race. And of course, there's Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Rick Perry — and on and on and on.

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Edward Morrissey

Edward Morrissey has been writing about politics since 2003 in his blog, Captain's Quarters, and now writes for HotAir.com. His columns have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, The New York Sun, the Washington Times, and other newspapers. Morrissey has a daily Internet talk show on politics and culture at Hot Air. Since 2004, Morrissey has had a weekend talk radio show in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and often fills in as a guest on Salem Radio Network's nationally-syndicated shows. He lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters. Morrissey's new book, GOING RED, will be published by Crown Forum on April 5, 2016.