Decision 2008: Presidential Power Rankings Week #25: Thompson on top of GOP while Hillary strengthens her lead.

I have to leave tommorrow on a trip so I decided to post the rankings now instead of Friday.

Republicans:

1st: Fred Thompson (rising) Thompson now is about 2nd or 3rd in national polls and is leading in 3 states and he hasn't even jumped into the race yet. His name ID gives him a boost and is becoming the Reagan of the party only in 2007 instead of 1980. Could this surge this once unknown to the presidency?

2nd: Mitt Romney (steady) Thompson's rise might be Romney's demise. His numbers are slowly coming down since Thompson entered the race and if Fred enteres the Ames straw poll, a once seemed easy win might become a big loss for his campaign.

3rd: John McCain (falling) Thompson has begun to actually hurt McCain's campaign and it has begun to fall apart again. He barely holds onto 2nd nationally and is losing his lead in early states. Its still early and any of these top 4 can take the nomination.

4th: Rudy Giuliani (falling) This is once again an all time low for Giuliani in our rankings. The 2nd tier has stepped up and Thompson has really shaken up the top tier moving McCain and Rudy down.

5th: Newt Gingrich (steady) Thompson took Gingrich's chance about sneaking a 1st tier spot and he may have a hard time if he enters in Sept.

Democrats

1st: Hillary Clinton (rising) New spikes in polls put her up double digits nationally and in NH and SC. She is only trailing in Iowa and not by much. Can the once-presumed nominee regain her title?

2nd: Barack Obama (falling) Obama's spike has ended and he is falling everywhere. His lead in SC is gone and he is almost in 3rd in both Iowa and NH. This isn't a good time for Barack.

3rd: John Edwards (steady) Edwards remains ahead in Iowa and as long as he holds onto that lead he will still have a shot at the nomination. New polls in NH show him in 2nd and closing in on Hillary and Barack.

4th: Bill Richardson (steady) Iowa polls show him at 9% 3 times as much as he was a month ago. Good job Richardson for coming back after 2 poor debates.

5th: Joe Biden (steady) Biden remains strong after 2 great debates. He still hasn't gotten a boost from those debates and somehow Richardson has.