Campaign for 2016 is already under way

Relieved to see the long, costly 2012 presidential race end? The 2016 campaign is closer than you think.

Democrats knew they would need a new standard bearer regardless of whether Obama was re-elected, and there are plenty of possibilities — from Hillary Clinton to New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

Republicans were poised in case Romney was not crowned chief — a crop of would-be candidates are at the ready, among them: Florida senator Marco Rubio and Wisconsin representative and vice-presidential hopeful Paul Ryan.