Return of the Presidential Rankings

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
The Friday Line: Return of the Presidential Rankings

DEMOCRATS

1. Hillary Rodham Clinton: No surprise here....

2. Barack Obama: Obama's place in the race is as the rising star in the Democratic Party ... who also happens to have been against the war from its inception. During a recent appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" Obama confirmed our long-held suspicions that he was at least considering a run for national office. We hear that a final decision will likely come down to family considerations -- he has two small children and no one seems to know what his wife thinks of a presidential bid. Obama's strengths are obvious -- huge buzz both inside and outside the Beltway and the perception that he could raise $50 million or more to compete with Clinton. His weaknesses? Lack of organization in any early primary or caucus state and a relative lack of experience on the national stage.

3. John Edwards: We thought long and hard about whether the former North Carolina senator should fill the No. 2 or 3 spot on the Line. Edwards had -- arguably -- the best last year of any of the serious contenders. He carefully re-cast himself as a strong voice against the war in Iraq, courted organized labor assiduously, and showed that he retains considerable good will from voters, especially in the key early state of Iowa. The one lingering question for Edwards is whether he can raise the tens of millions he needs to compete against Clinton and possibly Obama. During his 2004 race Edwards leaned heavily on trial lawyers to fund his campaign, and some people affiliated with other potential campaigns insist he will not receive that sort of unanimous support should he run in 2008. Edwards also largely shut down fundraising for his leadership political action committee, choosing to give his donors a break before the 2008 push. Will it work?

4. Evan Bayh: One of the unsung winners of Tuesday's election was the senator from Indiana. Bayh spent from his political capital in the Hoosier State to help elect Democrats in the 2nd, 8th and 9th congressional districts. It paid off. All three seats went for Democrats -- providing Bayh with a nice talking point in Iowa, New Hampshire and beyond about the success of his brand of moderate politics. But can a centrist message appeal to the liberal activists who dominate the early presidential voting states? It's a tough road for Bayh, but he is as well-organized as any candidate in the field and has put together an extremely impressive -- and experienced -- staff from top to bottom.

5. Bill Richardson: As longtime Fix readers know, we have long been skeptical of Richardson's chances of winning his party's nomination. That said, he has perhaps the most impressive resume of anyone on this list -- two-term governor, member of Congress, ambassador and cabinet secretary. He is also a Latino American, the quickest growing voting bloc in the country. That said, Richardson is not the most disciplined of politicians, a trait that could work to his detriment over the long haul of a presidential effort. Before you write off Richardson, however, ask yourself what other potential 2008 candidate could have pulled off this ad?

"A New Lawman in Town"
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/politicalads/94/

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[The Count]

1. No one who voted for war need apply. Gimme some Clark.

Possible Gore.

[NJ Democrats]

2. Russ!

[oddmanout]

3. Edwards/Obama ticket

John Edwards and Barack Obama would be a solid ticket....Hillary could be a high cabinat post?


:dem:

[Conker]

4. I think Obama would really alienate voters in the south.

I also feel the same way for Bill Richardson.