Presidential Candidates Ranking

Haven't done one of these in awhile so let's do my semi-regular ranking of the most likely people to become President in 2008. Take my predictions with a grain of salt. After the midterm election I said John McCain was the front runner. Whoops! In fact, let's just ditch my rankings because I clearly don't know what the hell I'm talking about. Let's see what InTrade has to say.

11. Michael Bloomberg 0.6%: People keep thinking he may throw his hat in the ring. And he can afford to wait awhile as he has a few bucks stashed away. But he isn't running yet. And I'm not sure if this is the year American is willing to vote for a non-Democrat/Republican. Still, he needs to be considered especially if say the nominees were to be a tad polarizing.

10. Fred Thompson 1.3%: He was all but being anointed the Republican front-runner back in July without even being in the race. His start has been less than stellar. Seems completely out of his element in the debates. Pretty pale imitation of Ronald Reagan. Still, the Republicans seem wide open so if he can hold his own in the first few primaries, he may be able to cause trouble. But I wouldn't count on it.

9. Al Gore 1.8%: Will the recent Nobel laureate throw his hat in the ring. I used to think so, but it's looking pretty unlikely now. Unless he does so in the next week or so as a shock candidate, I don't see it happening. Probably for the best. He would just hurt his popularity at this point and can probably be seen as being above the fray with the climate change issue.

8. John Edwards 2.6%: People keep forgetting about Mr. Edwards, as the Democrats increasingly look like Obama vs Clinton for the title. But if he can finish top 2 in Iowa, he will immediately become much more credible. #1 is in his grasp as he is very close in the polls with Clinton and Obama. If he finishes 3rd, I think he's dead in the water.

7. Ron Paul 4.2%: Are these percentages inflated? Perhaps. But he is raising a ton of money for a "non-credible" candidate. Can that be ignored. Well it could with Howard Dean. We'll see if money translates to votes.

6. Mike Huckabee 4.6%: Now the front-runner in Iowa, but the Republicans will surely come to their senses. I mean would they really nominate a candidate who doesn't believe in evolution. Even Bush believes in that doesn't he? And one with such pathetic foreign policy credentials? One who was advocating AIDS patients be quarantined as late as the '90s? Have I mentioned I'm not a fan? The Democrats already have the advantage. Nominating him would provoke a landslide the likes of which we haven't seen since Reagan. At least I hope so...

5. John McCain 9.0%: McCain looked dead earlier this year. But he may be turning it around at just the right time.

4. Mitt Romney 9.5%: Romney has to be terrified of Huckabee at this point. Romney has basically become a citizen of Iowa and now is in danger of losing with only 2 weeks to go or so. If he loses Iowa, I think an early withdrawal is very likely.

3. Rudy Giuliani 11.8%: Rudy doesn't really care about Iowa, although the rise of Huckabee is helping hurt his main contender. But suddenly Rudy's lead is evaporating in the polls. Are the voters finally learning too much about him? Or is it completely irrelevant as the national polls aren't worth the paper they're printed on in my opinion?

2. Barack Obama 16.3%: Isn't it funny how the press gives up on candidates before a vote has even taken place. Now Obama is seen as resurgent with the help of Oprah and some idiotic Clinton tactics.

1. Hilary Clinton 39.1% Still the leading contender, but the sense of inevitability has been lost. Clinton campaign workers playing the "Obama is a Muslim sleeper agent" card. Using Obama's Kindergarten papers against him (man that smacks of desperation). She can afford an early loss, but it will make the fight much more grueling. Still, she's got to be the #1 candidate still.