December 19, 2007
This is the penultimate edition of the Power Rankings. In 2008, until the nominees are decided, I will forgo ranking all the candidates, and just talk about the developments (along with some predictions) on a week by week basis.
Democrats:
1. Hillary Clinton (1)
2. Barack Obama (2)
3. John Edwards (3)
4. Bill Richardson (4)
5. Joe Biden (5)
6. Chris Dodd (6)
7. Al Gore (7)
8. Dennis Kucinich (8)
9. Mike Gravel (9)
No changes, but Des Moines Register endorsement aside, I am really starting to believe it will be tough for Hillary Clinton to win Iowa. I do not think people should be surprised if she finishes third. However, if she can quickly rebound in New Hampshire, she will regain frontrunner status. If not, her entire house of cards could come crashing down fast. I think Hillary will do what it takes to receive the nomination, no matter how much earth she must scorch to do so.
Republicans:
1. Mitt Romney (1)
2. Rudy Giuliani(2)
3. Mike Huckabee (3)
4. John McCain (4)
5. Fred Thompson (5)
6. Ron Paul (6)
7. Tom Tancredo (7)
8. Duncan Hunter (8)
9. Alan Keyes (9)
10. John Cox (10)
No changes this week, as I look at this from my perspective, but I really had to debate if I should have moved Huckabee up a spot ahead of Giuliani, who has really slipped both nationallly, and in most early states. Still though, I think the anti-Huckabee backlash is going to pick up steam, and Giuliani's money and organization will have him in better shape, as he hopes to just tread water until February 5th.
As for my candidate, Mitt Romney, there is no guarantee that he will get anywhere if he cannot win Iowa, but he is the only candidate who is at least in contention to win, Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, Florida, and South Carolina.
When the Huckabee boom goes bust, Romney will be in the best position to benefit, now that so many of Giuliani's former supporters have already abandoned the former New York City Mayor.
