Lucas Jackson-Pool/Getty Images 
 
 The race for 2016 starts the day after election day. Both parties are going to be searching for their new leaders. A huge question for Democrats is, "What does Hillary Clinton do?" Based on that decision, the race could go many ways. 
 
 Besides Clinton, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is a popular but unknown figure in the party, is considering. 
 
 Joe Biden, who seems to be intimating he will run, is on the shortlist, but the question becomes whether that is too status quo. 
 
 Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, is on the list, and has tremendous support in the Latino community. 
 
 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York would be a formidable figure if Clinton doesn't run. She is popular in a big state and a woman candidate is important, because 60 percent of Democratic primary voters are female. 
 
 New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been rumored to want to run and comes from a key state with access to party faithful and money. 
 
 There's also the chance of an unknown candidate who may emerge in the aftermath of this year's election. 
 
 For the GOP, the journey ahead is more perilous. They will be going through civil war after this Romney loss: the very conservatives vs. the establishment; the cultural conservatives vs. the economic conservatives; the populists vs. old school. And there is no clear leader ahead. Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, would be formidable with his name and money. 
 
 Paul Ryan is a favorite among deficit conservatives and did well on the Romney campaign. 
 
 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is a rising star of party and they need Latino inroads. 
 
 New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did well in Hurricane Sandy and is a tough talker. 
 
 Rick Santorum would consider a run, and has backing of social conservatives. 
 
 Mike Huckabee needs to make a decision and is a popular figure in the party. 
 
 Sarah Palin would be popular with some, though she has a tough road ahead. 
 
 Rick Perry may consider another run, though questions surround that. 
 
 And again, watch for an unknown candidate to emerge from this election. ||||| Justin Tallis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images 
 
 LONDON — There was a moment between the dawning realization that Barack Obama had won and the networks calling the election when a sudden flurry of online postings started speculating about Election 2016. 
 
 Jeb Bush will be president in 2016. — Ben Collin (TTBB) (@bennyc50) November 7, 2012 
 
 predicted Ben Collin of Grand Forks, N.D., one of many who named Mr. Bush, the former Florida governor, as a shoo-in for the Republican nomination in four years’ time. 
 
 Loving the fact that many Twitter friends are talking about a Clinton/Warren ticket in 2016. — Ethan Zuckerman (@EthanZ) November 7, 2012 
 
 posted Ethan Zuckerman of Pittsfield, Mass., noting enthusiasm for an all-woman Democratic ticket of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elizabeth Warren next time around. 
 
 Take a breath, America! Give yourselves time to recover from what seemed the longest and certainly was the most expensive campaign in U.S. political history before starting on the next one. 
 
 Outsiders frequently express bewilderment at the American predilection for near-permanent electioneering. The rule in Europe and elsewhere is to keep campaigns brief and above all cheap. 
 
 The other mystery, of course, is the U.S. political system. Foreign broadcasters traditionally spend much of their U.S. election specials explaining the arcana of the Electoral College, only to repeat it all over again every four years because we have forgotten it. 
 
 Foreigners are not alone in pondering whether aspects of the American system could do with some updating. 
 
 “Anyone who has looked at how elections are run outside the U.S. knows how backward key pillars of our election system are,” Steven Rosenfeld of the progressive AlertNet online magazine wrote before the election. 
 
 Citing a number of failings, like underfunded voter registration, obsolete voting machines and corporate campaign funding, he wrote: “Democratic renewal will not happen unless there is a further rebalancing of public and private interests in our political campaigns.” 
 
 Others lamented the rigidity of the two-party system. 
 
 An Obama supporter, cornered in a Cleveland bar on Election Night by the BBC, asked why America could not be more like, say, Switzerland, with three or even four parties. The two-party system “forces us to pick sides,” he said, “and sometimes there are more than two sides to it.” 
 
 Reflecting on the Obama victory from the vantage point of China, John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor, suggested that the world would probably breathe a collective sigh of relief. 
 
 That was not because foreign governments necessarily preferred the Democratic candidate, but rather that the choice of the incumbent meant we would not have to wait 18 months for a new president to read himself into his foreign policy portfolio. 
 
 By which time, he might have added, U.S. politics would be focused on the midterm elections. 
 
 Speculation about the lineup for Election 2016 is unlikely to generate much interest beyond U.S. shores, although Paddy Power, the Irish bookie, gamely offered early odds on the outcome. 
 
 By Wednesday morning, it was quoting 7 to 1 on Hillary Rodham Clinton and Paul Ryan, with Donald Trump a rank outsider at 100 to 1. ||||| Even though the 2012 election was just decided, it's never too early to start looking ahead to the next presidential election. Both Democrats and Republicans have a slate of bright prospects on the horizon. Here's a look at the hottest names in 2016 politics right now. 
 
 [GALLERY: 100 Years in Presidential Races] 
 
 Democrats 
 
 Vice President Joe Biden: The vice president sent journalists atwitter on Tuesday when he said he'd likely have the opportunity to cast a vote for himself again in the future. Biden, a 30-plus-year Senate veteran who now has experience as the White House No. 2, has been coy about his 2016 intentions so far. In fact, later on Tuesday, he joked that he would be running for county councilman as if to dissuade some speculation about his future plans. But former vice presidents nearly always top the list of potential contenders, thanks to their top name recognition and obvious experience handling top issues. Biden is a well-respected pol among his peers, though often ridiculed by the media and public thanks to his frequent gaffes. 
 
 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Clinton is a unique American political figure, having successfully transitioned from an at-times unpopular first lady to New York Senator to widely popular secretary of state. She's managed to go from the top target of Republican mockery in the 1990s to one of the few politicians who engendered genuine respect from colleagues and pundits on both sides of the aisle. Her hard-nosed 2008 campaign against Barack Obama sharpened her retail politicking, but combined with her grueling travel schedule of the last four years, she's vowed to stay out of politics. Nonetheless, she's widely regarded as the top Democratic White House contender should she change her mind. She's already got one endorsement in the bag—her husband, former President Bill Clinton—who would love to hit the campaign trail again. 
 
 New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Despite the fact that the New York governor has tried to keep a very low profile despite holding a very high-profile job, insiders all believe Cuomo has designs on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He's already got executive branch experience, having served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Bill Clinton. As governor, he has championed both liberal social causes, legalizing same-sex marriage despite a Republican-controlled state Senate, and has showed fiscally conservative bona fides, resisting raising taxes and making cuts to balance the state budget. There's no doubt of Cuomo's loyalty to the Clintons, but should Hillary choose to take a pass, he'll likely step up to the plate. 
 
 [GALLERY: Superstorm Sandy Leaves Devastating Damage in New Jersey] 
 
 Republicans 
 
 Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan: Ryan, coming off the 2012 campaign, transitioned smoothly from one of 435 members of the House of Representatives to the bright lights of the presidential campaign. In addition to learning how to work crowds of thousands in dozens of different states, Ryan has also excelled on the debate stage. His performance against a fiery Joe Biden was widely praised, delivering no knockout blows but largely holding his own against his more experienced opponent. Ryan has made a name for himself in the House as a budget hawk, crafting the Republican alternative to Democratic proposals. Many said Mitt Romney erred in picking someone who had put his name on proposals to drastically alter the popular Medicare program, but the 2012 race proved voters weren't willing to punish that move at the ballot. 
 
 New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been championed by conservatives since his 2010 election. The bombastic governor is known for his straight-talking style, whether he's disparaging reporters for what he thinks are stupid questions or nearly bullying public school teachers who challenge his budget-cutting proposals during his famous town hall meetings. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed his beloved Jersey Shore, Christie also burnished his bipartisan credentials by heaping praise on the federal response, particularly the leadership of President Barack Obama. Christie was an early endorser of Romney in 2012, but only after giving his own bid serious consideration. There's no doubt he'll be doing the same again in 2016. 
 
 Florida Sen. Marco Rubio: The charismatic Florida senator is the perfect example of what the Grand Ol' Party needs to widen its appeal among the American electorate. Just 41 years old and of Cuban descent, Rubio is more than just the face of a more diverse Republican Party. He awed crowds earlier in 2012, both at the Conservative Political Action Conference and the Republican National Convention, with his rags-to-riches tale of his childhood. His ability to intertwine his family's achievement of the American Dream with the conservative economic philosophy proves he is the most effective messenger of Republican ideals the party has seen in quite some time. Rubio also is obviously comfortable on stage and exudes a tangible charisma that can't be taught. 
 
 More News: 
 
 Rebekah Metzler is a political writer for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or reach her at rmetzler@usnews.com. ||||| Hillary Clinton Hillary Rodham ClintonAssange meets U.S. congressman, vows to prove Russia did not leak him documents High-ranking FBI official leaves Russia probe OPINION | Steve Bannon is Trump's indispensable man — don't sacrifice him to the critics MORE is likely still celebrating the reelection of President Obama, but on Twitter her fans are plotting her election in 2016. 
 
 #Hillary2016 was trending across the world on Twitter early Wednesday morning just a few minutes after Mitt Romney delivered his concession speech. 
 
 The secretary of State is regularly asked whether she might consider another bid for the White House, and always replies that she is ready to retire from politics. The former first lady does not plan to stay on as secretary of State in Obama's second term. 
 
 "I have been on this high wire of national and international politics and leadership for 20 years," she told Marie Claire last month. "It has been an absolutely extraordinary personal honor and experience. But I really want to just have my own time back. I want to just be my own person. I'm looking forward to that." 
 
 Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton sent one of the most popular #Hillary2016 tweets about four hours before the hashtag was trending — and before a winner was declared in the 2012 race. 
 
 Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran against Obama for the 2008 Democratic nomination, has since become one of the most popular figures in politics. 
 
 
 

– And so it begins: Speculation about Election 2016 is already running rampant, mere hours after President Obama was re-elected. Some of the frontrunners for a presidential run next time around, courtesy of ABC News and US News & World Report: Hillary Clinton: Not surprisingly, she's at the forefront of many minds right now ("Hillary2016" was trending on Twitter early today, the Hill notes), and is widely considered the No. 1 Democrat contender. Of course, she also keeps insisting she won't run. Joe Biden: The world took notice when he said yesterday that he'd probably vote for himself again someday—but he later joked that he just meant he'd be running for county councilman in the future. Andrew Cuomo: The New York governor has access to lots of money, and his liberal stance on social issues combined with a more fiscally conservative stance could make him a formidable contender. But don't expect him to run if Hillary does; he served under Bill Clinton and is loyal to the family. Other possible Democrats: Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Paul Ryan: He fared well as Romney's running mate and got himself re-elected to boot, so clearly he's a top contender. Marco Rubio: The charismatic Florida senator could help the GOP increase its appeal to Latino voters. Chris Christie: His tough talk has made him quite popular, and he's seen as more of a bipartisan figure now that he's praised the federal response to Hurricane Sandy. Other possible Republicans: Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, plus pretty much anyone who ran in the primary this time around. But in the International Herald Tribune, Harvey Morris has just one piece of advice: "Take a breath, America! Give yourselves time to recover from what seemed the longest and certainly was the most expensive campaign in US political history before starting on the next one."