JOHN EDWARDS: THE CHALLENGER Edwards retains the problem he had when he announced. No matter how many times he reinvents himself or moves to the left, he still needs to do well in an early state other than Iowa. And even the Hawkeye state, a must win for him, is hardly looking to be a sure thing. Ultimately, Edwards has depended on the possibility of Clinton or Obama stumbling, leaving him the alternative to the survivor. The problem is that neither Obama nor Clinton looks likely to do a quick fade. Edwards may be the odd one out.
BILL RICHARDSON: THE LONG SHOT Richardson has run an effective race. Unfortunately, he’s not a terribly effective candidate. True, his debate performances, though hardly stellar, have been better than expected. But any candidate who can’t stand up to Tim Russert on Meet the Press (Richardson put in what may be the worst appearance by a guest in decades) is going to have a hard time facing up to Vladimir Putin and the rest. It’s impossible to see how he breaks into the second tier, since even his strongest state, Nevada, doesn’t count for much. He’ll be gone before Super Tuesday.
JOE BIDEN: FRANCIS THE TALKING MULE A Biden victory was always a remote possibility, but he could have used his one asset — his considerable experience — to distinguish himself from the three leaders. He also could have taken a page out of the Romney playbook and spent his money early in an attempt to become known. Instead, he’s seemed content to kind of sneer his way through the debates and not do much else. Consequently, he’s done.
CHRIS DODD: THE VETERAN A terribly nice and able guy who isn’t going to advance toward the White House. He should save himself embarrassment and withdraw now.
DENNIS KUCINICH: THE JACKASS Kucinich is on an ego trip. If he really cared about the issues he professes to champion, he’d get behind a candidate with similar concerns (probably Edwards; perhaps Obama) who has a real chance to win. Instead, he takes up space in the field and on the debate stage, draining energy from the other liberals. Thus, all he does is help Clinton. Thanks, but no thanks, Dennis.
MIKE GRAVEL: THE GLUE FACTORY What else is there to say?
REPUBLICANS
RUDY GIULIANI
Odds: 5-3 | past week: same
MITT ROMNEY
Odds: 3-1 | same
NEWT GINGRICH
Odds: 5-1 | same
FRED THOMPSON
Odds: 7-1 | same
JOHN MCCAIN
Odds: 12-1 | same
MIKE HUCKABEE
Odds: 40-1 | same
SAM BROWNBACK
Odds: 500-1 | same
TOM TANCREDO
Odds: 150,000-1| same
DUNCAN HUNTER
Odds: 200,000-1 | same
RON PAUL
Odds: 200,000-1 |same
DEMOCRATS
BARACK OBAMA
Odds: 5-4 | past week: same
HILLARY CLINTON
Odds: 4-3 | same
JOHN EDWARDS
Odds: 8-1 | same
BILL RICHARDSON
Odds: 65-1 | same
JOE BIDEN
Odds: 75-1 | same
CHRIS DODD
Odds: 250-1 | same
DENNIS KUCINICH
Odds: 100,000-1 | same
MIKE GRAVEL
Odds: 8 million to 1 | same
On the Web
The Presidential Tote Board blog: http://www.thephoenix.com/toteboard
