Democrats Other Than Hillary Clinton Start Raising Profiles Ahead of 2016

Clinton not the only one interested

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet the lesser-known Democrats of 2016.

After a slow start — by the hyperactive standards of contemporary politics — to the next round of presidential maneuvering on the Democratic side, the first signs of life are beginning to stir among the roster of potential candidates not named Hillary Clinton.

So far this year, Republicans have far outpaced Democrats in the rate of their 2016 jockeying, with Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum and others all making early-state pilgrimages since the end of the 2012 presidential election. The Democratic field has largely been frozen in place as party leaders give near-total deference to Clinton, the former secretary of state who is a prohibitive favorite in early Democratic primary polling.