Decision 2008: Presidential Power Rankings #41

Republican


1st: Mitt Romney (rising) Increasing his leads in Iowa and NH puts him on top even with his poor national numbers. Romney is surprisingly even leading in South Carolina. Romney is on his way to sweeping the primaries, but we can't say he has it won, because look what happened to Dean in 2004. If he loses Iowa his campaign could be in trouble.


2nd: Rudy Giuliani (rising) While his national numbers increase he holds steady in the early primaries and caucuses. Giuliani needs to win at least one of the early 3 to move on to Super Tuesday.


3rd: John McCain (rising) McCain has shot to 19% nationally a steady 2nd place, as his numbers in Iowa, NH and South Carolina improve. All he really needs is a win in NH and that will swing South Carolina and Michigan.


4th: Mike Huckabee (rising) 2 points from the lead in Iowa, and 10% nationally puts him on top of Fred Thompson for the first time since the campaign began. Huckabee could upset the nomination with a win in Iowa, and with his numbers going nowhere but up since his strong Ames finish and Debate performances he could very well be on that path.


5th: Fred Thompson (falling) Recent General Election Polls show Thompson losing by a landslide to Sen. Hillary Clinton. I know he recieved that big endorsement from The Right to Life, but endorsements dont win elections. If someone can show me a way Thompson is effectively improving in the early primaries which he isn't then Ill move him up. Oh he also slipped to 3rd nationally over the weekend. All not good signs for his campaign.


Democrats:


1st: Hillary Clinton (steady) Improved in the past debate, but the damage was already done. Barack has moved into a tight race with her in Iowa, that could swing the momentum his way and at last end the Clinton nomination inevitablitiy.

2nd: Barack Obama (rising) Nationally Hillary has is won, but there isn't a national primary. Obama now is in a horse race with Sen. Clinton in Iowa. Should he win there Hillary could be in serious trouble.

3rd: John Edwards (steady) People don't realize, however Edwards still is in the hunt to win Iowa. He is currently only 6-8 point from the lead and scored a 2nd here in 2004. Edwards isn't completely out, but is being heavilay overshadowed by Obama and Hillary.

4th: Bill Richardson (falling) He was tied with Edwards in NH in 1 poll, but is falling everywhere so he remains in a lobsided 4th.

5th: Joe Biden (rising) Biden might be able to use some of his momentum he has been getting to turn this campaign from a possible 5th to even last place finish in most of the primaries to maybe even a 3rd or 4th. Still nowhere near a chance at the nomination however.