We've recently begun the second quarter of 2007 -- still a full nine months from the first caucuses and primaries -- and we already have 17 official entries, nine Republicans and eight Democrats, in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes.
The Republicans are Representative Duncan Hunter of California, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Senator John McCain, Representative Ron Paul of Texas, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson (who also later served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services), and Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.
The Democrats are former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, former North Carolina Senator and 2004 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee John Edwards, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
One Democrat, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who was previously in the race and had campaigned for three months, decided to withdraw in late February.
In addition, 10 candidates, five Republicans and five Democrats, who had been expected by many to join the race, have decided to take their names out of consideration.
The Republicans are former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, former Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader who did not seek re-election to the Senate in November, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Virginia Senator George Allen, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Allen and Santorum were both defeated in their re-election bids for the Senate in November, directly leading to their decisions to not seek the presidency.
The Democrats are Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, and Massachusetts Senator and 2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry.
Today, I also offer my updated presidential power ratings for both parties, in which I rank the current and prospective candidates in order of their likelihood to receive their respective party's presidential nomination. Of course, these rankings will fluctuate with time, as the fortunes of the candidates change, some drop out, and new ones emerge. Here's my latest installment:
Democrats:
1. Hillary Clinton
2. Barack Obama
3. John Edwards
4. Bill Richardson
5. Chris Dodd
6. Joe Biden
7. Al Gore
8. Wesley Clark
9. Dennis Kucinich
10. Mike Gravel
Republicans:
1. Rudy Giuliani
2. John McCain
3. Mitt Romney
4. Fred Thompson
5. Newt Gingrich
6. Sam Brownback
7. Tommy Thompson
8. Mike Huckabee
9. Duncan Hunter
10. Chuck Hagel
11. Ron Paul
12. Jim Gilmore
13. Tom Tancredo
14. George Pataki
15. Michael Bloomberg
Stay tuned for regular updates, with the next one coming around the second week in May.
Of all the names on your list one name stands out as the only one who actually deserves the job - Ron Paul.
Dr. Paul (known as "Dr. NO" to his fellow Congressmen) is the only candidate on your list who actually believes that the Federal Government should obey the Supreme Law of the Land (the Constitution.) Image that - Congress and the President actually obeying the law! What a concept.
Ron Paul has my vote, he deserves the vote of every real American.
Posted by: Michael Wagner | April 16, 2007 at 09:43 AM