Ok. We know that regardless of the outcome of this election, Barack Obama won't be able to run in 2016. Therefore, I think it's absolutely important that we focus on what lies ahead for us in 2016 as the progressive efforts in progressing the U.S. to a better state do NOT end with Barack Obama being president.
One of the potential worries I see about the 2016 Presidential race is that the Democratic Party won't nominate a candidate who is able to get people fired up like Barack Obama has. I don't believe Democrats, for what they've been through since 2000, will want to nominate someone who is a drone, who is overcalculating his/her next move without realizing the need to be authentic and really inspire people.
That being said, I see the following names of people floating around who could be potential candidates for the 2016 presidential race:
Vice President Joe Biden
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton (she may be dropping her political ambitions though after being Secretary of State)
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
Senator Mark Warner
What do you think of any of the above? Who do you suggest?
Be serious here. 2016 will be just as important (if not more important) for Democrats to win as 2012 is.