The political spectrum of potential 2016 candidates, in one chart
From CNN comes a comprehensive ranking of potential 2016 candidates on a liberal to conservative scale. Created with a unique algorithm provided by Crowdpac, the scale tanking takes into account not just the candidates' rhetoric and voting record but also which groups have funded their past campaigns.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) falls furthest to the left in the chart, followed closely by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), though she says she won't be seeking the nomination. Vice President Joe Biden and Governor Chris Christie are closest to the center, albeit separated by a seven-point gap.
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Most difficult to rank was Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who "took the award for Crowdpac's most conservative presidential contender although he's considered the 'most liberal' on issues of government intelligence and surveillance," outpacing even Sanders on these topics.
