Potential Candidates:

1. Incumbent President (if not a second-term): If the sitting president is not serving a second term, they may seek re-election. As of my last update, Joe Biden was the President, and his decision to run for re-election would have a significant impact on the race.

2. Republican Candidates: The Republican field could include a mix of prominent figures. Potential candidates might include former President Donald Trump, if he chooses to run again. Other notable Republicans like former Vice President Mike Pence, Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and several state governors may also enter the race.

3. Democratic Candidates: In the Democratic Party, potential contenders could be Vice President Kamala Harris, should President Biden decide not to seek re-election. Other prominent Democrats, such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and various Democratic governors, could also run.

Early Campaign Strategies:

Early campaign strategies in a presidential election typically involve several key elements:

1. Fundraising: Candidates must secure the financial resources necessary to fund their campaigns. This involves soliciting donations, both from individuals and organizations.

2. Primary Campaigns: In the case of both major parties, candidates must participate in primary elections and caucuses to secure their party's nomination. Primary campaigns often focus on mobilizing the party's base.

3. Message and Platform: Candidates develop clear messages and policy platforms that resonate with their party's base and, later, with the general electorate. Key issues often drive these messages.

4. Coalition Building: Candidates seek to build coalitions of supporters and endorsements from influential figures within their party.

Key Issues:

The key issues in any presidential election can evolve as circumstances change. However, as of my last update, the following issues were already significant and could continue to shape the 2024 election:

1. COVID-19 and Public Health: The management of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination efforts, and future public health challenges would likely remain a central issue.

2. Economic Recovery: The state of the economy, job growth, and efforts to stimulate economic recovery post-pandemic would be crucial.

3. Climate Change and Environmental Policy: Environmental issues, including climate change and sustainability, were gaining prominence in the political discourse and could continue to do so.

4. Healthcare: Access to healthcare, health insurance reform, and addressing the affordability of healthcare were ongoing concerns.

5. Racial and Social Justice: Protests against racial injustice and calls for police reform were major issues. The national conversation around social justice would continue to be significant.

6. Foreign Policy: International relations and challenges, including relations with China, Russia, and ongoing conflicts, would play a role in shaping the election.

7. Immigration: Immigration policy, border security, and pathways to citizenship were contentious issues that would likely be debated during the campaign.