Yesterday, something phenomenal happened. While I dare not call DOOM (1. that’s Moe Lane’s job and 2. I think it would be a bit premature), I do believe Hillary irreparably hurt herself in the race for the White House in 2016. My colleague Leon Wolf updated the Republican Power Rankings yesterday, so you can see where the GOP is in terms of having a series of candidates, diverse in numerous ways, ready and willing to run against a Democrat in 2016.

I am not the optimist others are in thinking 2016 is a lock for the Republican Party, however I do think that as of today, March 11, 2016, it is the Republicans’ race to lose. Hillary’s handling of this entire e-mail situation shows a total apathy for the press corps, the rules, and the American people. There are some murmurs about other candidates in the Democratic Party who are thinking of running but, honestly… who knows who they are? Popularity for them is limited to their own states, and in some cases, they are even popular there.

[mc_name name=’Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’W000817′ ] vehemently denies harboring any thoughts of running, which leads me to believe she will. She is a populist by ideology, though she doesn’t shy away from big money. I think the most fun we could have in a debate, barring the current vice president (see below) against anyone, would be Warren against [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ]. The ideological battle there would just be fun, I think. However, (sorry [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] fans) I really don’t want Cruz to run – I prefer him in the senate, especially at a time when we as a party are gaining ground, but as a conservative movement are losing it there. But, getting back to Warren, whether she runs or not, she does not have the same youthful energy that Barack Obama did going into 2008. The messages may be the same, but the face of the campaign would definitely not be.

Joe Biden, under normal circumstances, would be the natural pick for the next presidential nominee. He would be chosen to continue the Obama administration’s cause and champion Obama’s policies… Is there any reason Republicans shouldn’t want him to run? The gaffes alone are worth it, and if he decides to embrace Obama’s policies, so much the better! It would be wonderful to see him run for president and be Crazy Uncle Joe on the campaign trail and try to find a vice presidential candidate who wouldn’t be totally embarrassed by him.

Martin O’Malley? The former governor of Maryland is making moves, giving speeches, and setting himself up to be Not Hillary in 2016, and I honestly think that, right now, he stands the best chance… even if no one knows who he is. In a race between him, Biden, and Warren, I see O’Malley as the only one with enough (of the right) experience to handle a big campaign with as few mistakes as possible. He also has the youngest-looking face (he is only 52), which puts him way ahead of the others.

Pit that against the Republican line-up: Everyone knows who they are, what they stand for, and how hard they’ll fight. Why do they know this? Because the media, which has done everything it can to taint people’s perceptions of them, has given them so much more coverage than the Democrats. It is totally possible to take advantage of the media’s bias, and they won’t change that just because it’s now written down somewhere (it may only make them try – and fail – harder).

Is it an advantage going into 2016? I think so. Now, like I said, it is the Republican Party’s race to lose right now, because there is a lot of talent and experience in this roster of GOP contenders, but the big money and the strategists and the consultants will have bad ideas. And some folks will listen to them. They shouldn’t, though.