Top Political Analyst Handicaps the GOP's Race for 2016 Presidential Nomination

Greg Valliere, the chief political strategist of the Potomac Research Group, released a new list handicapping the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday. His new ranking had former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on top after coming in at third in Valliere's previous list, in May.

Valliere's list, which he permitted Business Insider to republish, also shows the 2012 GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz climbing. The news wasn't good for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, former Pennsylvania Senator and 2012 candidate Rick Santorum, and ex-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who all dropped several spots.

Check out Valliere's top 10 below:

10.  Mike Pence (previously 10): The Indiana governor is making just enough noise to stay on the list, keeping his vice presidential chances very much alive. Pence appeals to all wings of the party — no easy feat.
9.  Scott Walker (previously 2): The Wisconsin governor was the insiders' pick last winter; now he's in a close fight to win re-election this fall. It's hard to see a hanging offense amid all the allegations about his fundraising — The New York Times was particularly outrageous in its treatment of him — but politics ain't always fair, and Walker's halo has slipped. 
8.  Rick Santorum (previously 3): The biggest surprise of the 2012 campaign (he won eleven primaries), Santorum probably will run again with enthusiastic backing from the religious right. He's been AWOL lately, but if Santorum wins Iowa, he could stay in the race for a very long time.
7:  Paul Ryan: He wasn't on our Top Ten list in May, and he could be No. 1 or 2 by next summer. For now, we think Ryan is determined to polish his resume by passing tax reform next year; if a bill is through the House by summer, speculation about a presidential bid will intensify. The irony: Ryan deserves respect as the GOP "ideas guy," but many of his ideas poll poorly. 
6.  Chris Christie (previously 6): He's spending a fortune on lawyers, and a suspicion persists that more dirt will come out, but the feisty New Jersey governor is still a major player. Christie could win 270 electoral votes, and not everyone on this list can claim that. Is Christie running? Oh yeah.

Find out his TOP 5 Picks and read the rest of the story HERE.

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