Hotline's newest candidate rankings

[draft_mario_cuomo]

This is the first ranking since the 1st quarter fundraising results.

uesday, April 17, 2007

==There is no Democratic front-runner. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all have a plausible claim on the nomination.

The usual metrics are all jumbled. Clinton leads the money race, leads in New Hampshire, and tops the national polls. Obama leads in South Carolina, in media love, and in enthusiasm. Edwards has the tightest message, the best organization in Iowa, and the lead in Iowa.==

==2.(tie) Hillary Clinton
New York senator Last Ranking: 1
Hillary Clinton Has a solid lead in national polling ever meant so little, so early? We're not sure the Clinton camp sufficiently steeled itself for the inevitable bruise of Obama's ability to match her in fundraising. The Clinton machine was built by hard work, but also by contingency and circumstance: the magic of doing the right things at the right time. To win, Hillary has to sell herself as a doer (in contrast to Obama's "hoper") and a trailblazer(will she alienate men?). She must also figure out how to survive the early debates without the aura of invincibility that might have kept her rivals from shooting buckshot in her direction and the aura of celebrity that, just six months ago, would have guaranteed that every crowd her campaign built was large and inspired. Thegood news, though, is that somebody else now has to share the burden of expectations. Almanac Profile

2.(tie) Barack Obama
Illinois senator Last Ranking: 2
Barack Obama The Obama campaign has been slow, steady and methodical. At this moment, it doesn't matter that Obama lacks a health care plan, a comprehensive economic policy, any subtle foreign policy vision or even a concrete proposal to move the Middle East peace process forward. But the idea of Obama is worth, it's safe to say, about 20 points in the national polls, and that is not sufficient. Just like Clinton, Obama has earned the privilege to fight for the nomination. That meanshe must subject himself to the indignities of a presidential campaign. Does he have the plod? Almanac Profile

2.5. John Edwards
Former North Carolina senator Last Ranking: 3
John Edwards From the perspective of pure politics, the cancer announcement and its aftermath were handled adroitly. Edwards has had a good quarter, but he's still stuck between tiers, as our colleague Stu Rothenberg eloquently put it. We are impressed by Edwards' enduring lead in Iowa, where crowds have shown up to Clinton and Obama events, processed them and haven't changed their minds. Still, the Edwards folks have to fortify themselves for the inevitable Iowa falloff. Can they prevent the media from overreacting? Dick Gephardt couldn't survive once he lost his Iowa inevitability. Can Edwards? His final target is Clinton; his immediate enemy is Obama. As you watch him in the debates, keep that in mind.==

http://nationaljournal.com/racerankings/wh08/democrats/index.htm

[LSparkle]

1. Great news!

I'm starting to like the sound of an "Edwards/Obama" ticket ... Michelle Obama has all the enthusiasm and genuineness of Elizabeth Edwards -- I'd LOVE to see the two families (with youngsters in tow) campaigning together.

[Catchawave]

2. Bill Maher said the same thing !

On The View the other day, he said that was the ONLY ELECTABLE ticket.

:toast:

[Beaverhausen]

3. Why isn't Bill Richardson doing better?

He has more experience than any of these candidates.

Glad Edwards is moving up. I like the Edwards/Obama ticket, or Edwards/Richardson.

[HughMoran]

4. Good

Nobody should get the nomination based on a media popularity contest. I'm glad there are three still viable...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

5. Well, the media is doing its best to make it a two horse race...

...but those stubborn voters in Iowa are throwing a wrench in that plan. :)

[HughMoran]

6. I'm an underdog kinda person

...and Edwards is doing more to win me over, so I'm rooting for him. I like Obama actually, but he's being WAY overplayed. I have to admit I really fell for that DNC speech he gave a while back (which is why he's so popular today).

[jillan]

7. Look at what they wrote about my guy - BIDEN

Yeah he's still down there but.....

5. Joseph Biden
Delaware senator Last Ranking: 6
No candidate works harder to frame the Iraq debate, to respond to the news of the day and to justify, in clear terms, why his mastery of the issues is superior. Those journalists who like hard workers -- David Broder, Lee Bandy -- love Biden. There was a time when Broder could create a candidacy, but that's not enough anymore. Almanac Profile


My thoughts exactly!
<-----me