GOP

Romney.

Flip flopper extrordinaire. And an infidel Mormon, which won't go down well with the Taliban wing of the GOP.

Huckabee.

The Taliban's candidate. Feared and loathed by the GOP's Enron wing, who don't understand why the evangelicals can't just perform their usual functions for the GOP ie. vote, donate, volunteer for grunt work like phonebanking.

McCain.

The GOP establishment candidate. The party's big backers have looked at the field and it's clear that McCain is going to get all the help he can be given, favourable press etc. to try and get him the nomination even though GOP voters aren't enthralled. If nominated will pick Joe Lieberman as running mate to help attract Republican voters.



Democrats.

Obama.

Looks good for him after Iowa. Hard to stop him now.

Hillary.

Imploding after Iowa. Panic stations right now.

Edwards.

Might have a chance if Hillary pulls out early but probably toast.




Who wins the election should be easy to predict but isn't. The GOP base is n't enthused by either the last eight years or their choice of candidates, Dems are energised and everything's in their favour right now. Next year the economy will get worse and worse as we head to November, favouring a "change" candidate like Obama over an old bastard like McCain.

But the media handle GOP and Democratic candidates entirely differently. There's going to be the most unpleasant-ever GOP election campaign and the media will just let them get on with it. It's going to be a Democratic victory but it may be much smaller than it really should be. Obama wins in 2008.