Potential 2016 Presidential Candidates Online, 2013

This page links to campaign committees, leadership PACs, 501(c)(4)s, and other organizations associated with figures mentioned as potential 2016 presidential candidates.  Some of these figures have no intention of running, others have all but decided to run, others are genuinely undecided, and still others have not yet caught the attention of the media.  The 2014 mid-term elections will clarify the political terrain and potential candidates' decisions.  At this point, there are many more prospects on the Republican side than on the Democratic side; Hillary Clinton is seen as the almost inevitable Democratic nominee should she decide to run. 

A solid online presence, including a web site and active use of social media, is seen as an essential way for politicians to get their messages out.  Some of these individuals are fairly prolific in their Tweets and Facebook posts.  In many cases media consultants or aides do the work, but sometimes it is the politicians themselves.  The number of likes (Facebook) and/or followers (Twitter) gives a sense of these figures' national prominence.  Surprisingly, Rep. Paul Ryan is the leader in Facebook likes at 4.9 million, in large measure the result of his time as vice presidential nominee.  Other Facebook leaders are Sarah Palin at a bit under 4 million, Rand Paul 1.6 million and Mike Huckabee 1.4 million.  Leaders in Twitter followers as of Dec. 25, 2013 are Jerry Brown (1,044, 787), Sarah Palin (1,014,108), Hillary Clinton (1,004,623), Paul Ryan (563,835), Marco Rubio (478,725) and Chris Christie (421,938).  Apart from Twitter, Clinton, the heavyweight among prospects, has been in a fairly low-key online mode since leaving her position as Secretary of State.  She is one of very few potential candidates without a Facebook site, and she also does not have an active website other than those related to her work at the Clinton Foundation.