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Well, according to straw polls among Democrats, Hillary isn't even close to being the favorite for the nomination in 2008. The top contender in "dream" polls is actually Gore, as there is still a great deal of loyalty to him from the base and there is hope for a Nixon-like political comeback.
However, I doubt Gore will run again. He hasn't even played coy about it like Hillary is. Hillary isn't as popular with the Democratic base as many think, especially when they are given other options.
Biden is going to be a tough sell, just because of his support for the bankruptcy bill. He's been labeled Senator MBNA. He'll get hit hard over that in the primaries. Given that he's also a senator, and would bring back memories of Kerry, I doubt he'll get far. Feingold has the same problem, plus he's viewed as very far left.
Clark is still a significant possibility. His campaign flopped because of inexperience in 2004, but he's been out in front as a critic of the Administration and has attracted a lot of Democrats. He's also had a crash course in political savvy and has attracted a bigger pool of campaign management experts to his side.
Dean isn't going to run, I'm positive of that. He's discovered the value of being DNC chair and is really doing a great job for the party. They've been running rings around the GOP in terms of fundraising and recruiting top talent for office.
Edwards might try again, but I don't think he'll get much traction. Not being in office for 4 years will hurt. Speaking of that, I can tell Kerry is trying to position himself for another shot. No way, no how. The Dems are treating him like Dukakis post-1988.
So that leaves us with a bunch of virtual unknowns on the national level. Warner looks okay but doesn't (and can't) have a re-election under his belt. Bayh is about as exciting as cardboard, and the same goes for Vilsack. I'm not too familiar with Easley, but a Southern governor will probably intrigue people. Richardson doesn't inspire me as someone who will make a great candidate for president, even though I think he's doing a fine job in NM.
Other outside candidates are Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana, who is intensley popular in a Western "red" state, but is also relatively inexperienced. Same applies to Wyoming's popular Governor Freudenthal. Also, provided she wins re-election in 2006 (which looks good right now), Michigan's Governor Granholm could be another female contender that would generate some excitement.
As for the Republican field, I have no idea what's going to happen there. McCain seems the frontrunner right now, and he can at least avoid some of the potential backlash from the Bush Administration that someone like Condi might encounter, if things in 2008 remain as they are now or get worse. I think Mike Huckabee of Arkansas is the most talked-about governor. Besides Pataki, of course, who I think has a snowball's chance. Oh, and Romney, who I think has the same odds. Frist already appears to be dead in the water, too.
However, I doubt Gore will run again. He hasn't even played coy about it like Hillary is. Hillary isn't as popular with the Democratic base as many think, especially when they are given other options.
Biden is going to be a tough sell, just because of his support for the bankruptcy bill. He's been labeled Senator MBNA. He'll get hit hard over that in the primaries. Given that he's also a senator, and would bring back memories of Kerry, I doubt he'll get far. Feingold has the same problem, plus he's viewed as very far left.
Clark is still a significant possibility. His campaign flopped because of inexperience in 2004, but he's been out in front as a critic of the Administration and has attracted a lot of Democrats. He's also had a crash course in political savvy and has attracted a bigger pool of campaign management experts to his side.
Dean isn't going to run, I'm positive of that. He's discovered the value of being DNC chair and is really doing a great job for the party. They've been running rings around the GOP in terms of fundraising and recruiting top talent for office.
Edwards might try again, but I don't think he'll get much traction. Not being in office for 4 years will hurt. Speaking of that, I can tell Kerry is trying to position himself for another shot. No way, no how. The Dems are treating him like Dukakis post-1988.
So that leaves us with a bunch of virtual unknowns on the national level. Warner looks okay but doesn't (and can't) have a re-election under his belt. Bayh is about as exciting as cardboard, and the same goes for Vilsack. I'm not too familiar with Easley, but a Southern governor will probably intrigue people. Richardson doesn't inspire me as someone who will make a great candidate for president, even though I think he's doing a fine job in NM.
Other outside candidates are Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana, who is intensley popular in a Western "red" state, but is also relatively inexperienced. Same applies to Wyoming's popular Governor Freudenthal. Also, provided she wins re-election in 2006 (which looks good right now), Michigan's Governor Granholm could be another female contender that would generate some excitement.
As for the Republican field, I have no idea what's going to happen there. McCain seems the frontrunner right now, and he can at least avoid some of the potential backlash from the Bush Administration that someone like Condi might encounter, if things in 2008 remain as they are now or get worse. I think Mike Huckabee of Arkansas is the most talked-about governor. Besides Pataki, of course, who I think has a snowball's chance. Oh, and Romney, who I think has the same odds. Frist already appears to be dead in the water, too.
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