Presidential Power Rankings # 18

May 2, 2007

Democrats:

1. Hillary Rodham Clinton (1)
2. Barack Obama (2)
3. John Edwards (3)
4. Al Gore (4)
5. Joe Biden (6)
6. Bill Richardson (5)
7. Chris Dodd (7)
8. Dennis Kucinich (8)
9. Mike Gravel (10)
10. Wesley Clark (9)

A couple changes have been made this week, due nearly entirely to last week's first Democrat debate, which occured in South Carolina. Joe Biden surpassed expectations while Bill Richardson was seen by most as having a pretty poor debate performance. Thus, they swap places, while still remaining far behind those ahead of them on the list, and especially the three Democrats, who are announced candidates.

Also, Mike Gravel got some national publicity via the debate and was quite crotchety and entertaining. His presence made Dennis Kucinich look like a statesman. Nonetheless, a lot more Democrats now know who he is, and many undoubtedly cheered him on as he accused his fellow candidates of being nuke-happy. He has earned the #9 slot, ahead of the perpetual non-campaign of Wes Clark.

Republicans:


1. Rudy Giuliani (1)
2. Mitt Romney (2)
3. John McCain (3)
4. Fred Thompson (4)
5. Tommy Thompson (5)
6. Sam Brownback (6)
7. Mike Huckabee (7)
8. Newt Gingrich (8)
9. Duncan Hunter (9)
10. Ron Paul(10)

No changes again this week, but perhaps that will not be the case in next weeks' rankings, as ten contenders will debate at the Ronald Reagan Library in California this Thursday. Since Newt Gingrich and Fred Thompson are not announced candidates, they will not take place, so Jim Gilmore and Tom Tancredo probably have high hopes of doing something to catch notice and crack into the top ten.

But with ten candidates, ninety minutes, and the vocal monopilizaton of one Chris Matthews, the candidates may be limited to about 2 minutes apiece.

As for the current field though, there were some interesting polls out coming from ARG last week in the three early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Despite Giuliani, having a solid lead in most national polls (and what amounts in some of them to a virtual three way tie for second place), John McCain was ahead in all three of those states. McCain's campaign has been much maligned lately, but it could be that he is stronger than some think, where it matters.

Mitt Romney has also moved up in the ARG polls, at least in Iowa and New Hampshire, into strong contention for the number two slot in Iowa, and in sole posession of second place in New Hampshire, where he only trails McCain 29-24.

The next few months are really going to be interesting.