News Analysis: Republican nomination is anybody's game in lead up to 2016 White House race

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) - The Republican ticket is anybody's game at this early stage in the lead up to the 2016 US presidential elections, though the 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney has announced not to run again.

After Romney's announcement of his decision on Friday, the Republican stage is still full with candidates who could face off in a tight competition to clinch the party's nomination for the 2016 race and then fight to take back the White House.

There is no clear front runner so far in the Republican camp, and new candidates could emerge to the surprise of analysts, Washington watchers and pundits.

Certainly, Republicans need a candidate with real star power to match the international celebrity of former first lady and Obama administration's former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who is Democrats' likely nominee and is considered a formidable opponent.

While much could change before election season comes into full swing, Republican strategist Ford O'Connell told Xinhua that right now there are three candidates who could stand up to Clinton's international fame: former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, also younger brother of former President George W. Bush, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

According to O'Connell, Rubio will be helped by the fact that he has made his own way in the world and will not be viewed as an elitist. He had attended community college, before graduating from a law school and racking up a hefty amount of student loans in the process, which he worked to pay off later.

Jeb Bush will be helped by the fact that his wife hails from Mexico, and that could carry much weight with Hispanics, seen as a crucial voting block and one that usually votes Democratic.

"He's one of those guys that the more they learn about him, the more they like him," O'Connell said, but adding that while Bush connects very well with donors and minorities, he does not connect as well as he could with rank and file voters.

Another potential candidate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a big man known for a bombastic and in-your-face style that resonates with many Republicans, may be also able to match Clinton on charisma, analysts say.

And as foreign policy is expected to play a major role in the 2016 race, Christie will likely come out tough against terrorism.

"Democrats are scared of Chris because of his campaigning style and his ability to return fire on the stump and his ability to connect with people," O'Connell said.

Often in the US presidential race, candidates emerge stronger and more confident after defeating a slew of rival candidates and clinching their party's nomination. The process also gives candidates the chance to tweak their style, strengthen their message and improve how they relate to the public.

"Whoever gets the Republican nomination will have plenty of star power. That person will have beaten a large field of credible candidates and will have abundant financial resources for the general election," Brookings Institution's senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

"Leadership and competence will be a big part of the discussion given the difficulties the government has had managing its responsibilities," West added.