...do you think any of the outsiders on the GOP side can last? And if not, who among the insiders who take it? They all seem very flawed in one way or another.

Aree all the Republicans are in the race now? Not if someone declares.

I must admit it never occurred to me someone else in the GOP might come out of the woodwork. Any ideas on who?

Bloomberg as an independent?

Well done! Yes, he is hovering around. Wall Street would love it.

Clinton seems to have survived the summer onslaught fairly well. So, it would seem that he would only continue to stand on the sidelines if he thinks a major bombshell may be coming. But, as of now, the nomination seems like Clinton's to lose. The GOP is more intriguing. Party insiders want Jeb, but the voters don't want any part of it. I've come to see that the "anti-establishment" vote is really an anti-Bush vote. They know very well who is trying to be rammed down their throats. If they don't get behind Rubio, they may well have to suck it up and support Trump as the nominee.

Bush has shown absolutely no ability to connect to GOP voters. Rubio has a shot. I think Kasich has a shot, too. The real question, I think, is when does the money well run dry for Bush and the establishment looks to Kasich or Rubio (they hate Cruz). Wall Street Republicans will never go for Trump or Cruz. Rubio is kind of tailor-made VP candidate. He is too much like Obama but he looks far less mature. So I'm thinking at some point this tilts to Kasich unless Bush shapes up fast.

He won't stay out if getting in the race is what the nation needs. Beyond altruism, he'd already be in the race if he thought it necessary to defeat the Republicans. If these impressions are correct, it says something positive about the declared candidate field when the incumbent VP might sit out running.

...Biden's brain knows he shouldn't run. The question is whether he will act on it...or follow his heart. I think he'll sit it out unless Hillary drops ten more points, which I think is unlikely. The debate is actually becoming very important....