2008 Power Rankings: November 5th, 2007
Posted on November 5th, 2007 at 7:00 am by Jason Wright, EditorWelcome to the latest edition of PoliticalDerby.com’s 2008 Power Rankings, the original tracking service in the current race for the White House. The rankings are updated as circumstances warrant and are compiled by our Editor and contributors using wire reports, polls, campaign staffer scuttlebutt and confidential tips.
And now off to the races!
Rankings last updated: November 5, 2007 |
| Power Ranking | The Horse | Momentum | The Tip Sheet | |
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Hillary Clinton |  |
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Hillary is still out in front of the pack. But she didn’t just stumble at the last debate, she fell on her face and swallowed three pounds of dirt. The rumble of Obama and Edwards galloping behind her seems to have put her on edge and democrats must be wondering if she can’t handle the pressure in a democratic debate, how will she fare under much more heat from the GOP during the general election? In a matter of 90 minutes Hillary went thick skin to easy bleeder. (previous ranking: #1) |
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Hillary Clinton | |
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In the past, Hillary occupied two or three of the top positions because of her commanding lead. This round she needs two slots because she’s riding two horses. Debate watchers saw her standing astride two thoroughbreds with one foot on each saddle. One horse is racing for the far-left base of the party while the other one heads for the middle. It’s tough to balance like that and still ride fast enough to stay ahead of the competition. (previous ranking: #1) |
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Barack Obama |  |
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Barack has hit his stride and is discovering that anti-Hillary momentum might carry him past the verbal miscues. He’s said several bone-headed things lately, but thus far a smile and a wave makes everything peachy again. Though Hillary’s universally panned debate loss gave Obama an extra burst of energy, he’s still not a good bet to overtake her. But at least he’s making things interesting again. (previous ranking: #4) |
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John Edwards |  |
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College for everyone! Health care for everyone! Cotton candy for everyone! Edwards is littering the track with promises and sound bites. Then when he’s not describing a new entitlement, he’s explaining why he’s the real alternative to Hillary. The fact that he can’t even see Hillary from where he is on the track doesn’t seem to matter. Still, every bad day for Hillary is a good day for Edwards. (previous ranking: #5) |
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Bill Richardson |  |
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Richardson gets a bump because Hillary came back to the pack in recent weeks. But the governor needs to do more than lope around the track selling himself as the alternative to the alternative who is the alternative to Bush. Never in the history of US presidential politics has a candidate so obviously been running for the ribbon-cutting slot on the ticket. (previous ranking: unranked) |
| Others receiving votes: Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Al Gore, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich |
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| Rankings last updated: November 5, 2007 |
| Power Ranking | The Horse | Momentum | The Tip Sheet | |
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Rudy Giuliani |  |
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Rudy’s remains in the top spot due to his healthy year-long national lead. But the Mayor will test history by trying to win the GOP nomination despite likely losing Iowa, New Hampshire and possibly South Carolina, where he now trails slightly in the state averages to Governor Romney. Rudy’s team loves to crow about their double digit national lead, but they’d trade 10 national points for a win in Iowa or New Hampshire in a New York minute. (previous ranking: #1) |
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Mitt Romney |  |
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Romney’s campaign is one of the more perplexing in recent cycles. His national numbers are almost exactly what they were 6 months and tens of millions of dollars ago. But his state numbers improve almost poll-to-poll. He sits very comfortably ahead in Iowa, somewhat comfortably ahead in New Hampshire, and for the first time leads in South Carolina, a state presumed unwinnable by a Mormon. Would you rather be the horse with the national lead or the one leading the states that vote first? (previous ranking: #3) |
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Fred Thompson |  |
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Fred manages to stay in the running, even though he likes to wander off the track every once in a while to graze in the infield. He might be the first candidate to contend for the nomination without actually campaigning. And no, we’re not comparing him to the reluctant George Washington. It’s hard to imagine the GOP base, no matter how much they like him, rewarding his part-time campaign with the GOP nomination. (previous ranking: #2) |
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Mike Huckabee (tie) |
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As Fred fails to impress, Huckabee creeps toward the top-tier. Huck’s numbers have improved in Iowa and a second place showing would make him an instant contender. His greatest hurdles are cash — he has almost none — and the growing chorus of conservative voices accusing him of being a RINO while serving as Arkansas governor. (previous ranking: #5) |
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John McCain (tie) |
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The fact that these two are tied says a lot about both candidates. McCain continues to fail to meet expectations while Paul soars right over them. McCain looks more tired than battle tested and Paul looks energetic and spunky. So yes, we finally have a Year 2000 McCain in the race! But it’s Ron, not John, and that’s why Paul is capturing the grassroots energy that once belonged to McCain. (previous ranking: tied for #4) |
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Ron Paul (tie) |
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See McCain, Tired. (previous ranking: #5) |
| Others receiving votes: Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo |
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Posted in Power Rankings-2008, White House-2008 by
Jason Wright, Editor •
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Are these rankings serious?
You have Bill Richardson ahead of Joe Biden? And you have Richardson *gaining* momentum?! As for Obama, I’d argue that he’s running in place, rather than gaining or losing momentum.
And Stephen Colbert’s bid for making the South Carolina ballot failed, so I don’t know why he is even being included in the rankings at all.
I do agree with your Republican rankings, however.
Are you new?
What! No mention of Fred’s undying friendship and business relationship with a known drug pusher?
It’s one thing to say “Gee, I didn’t know he was a drug pusher.” But to say “Well, he is and always will be a friend of mine.”
WTF!
This is further proof that neo-cons are just liberals in Pub clothing. Only liberals give criminals a pass.
I love how Ron Paul’s arrow indicator has always been UP, yet he doesn’t move up.
You used to be able to click Power Rankings in the top navigation and get the complete history of PD’s Power Rankings. But that feature no longer exists…but then again, PD has never posted the science behind their rankings.
Good job Jason with the rankings.
I think it has become very clear that only Rudy or Mitt are up to the task of taking on Hillary.
Although, I think only Rudy can defeat Hillary.
Colbert made it easy for us by “dropping out” - so we’ve removed him from the rankings. But it’s definitely true that he would have beaten Gravel and Kucinich as a write-in candidate. And he might have even challenged Dodd and Biden.
The 7-10: Anthony Palmer: The rankings are as serious as you want them to be. Why is Richardson ahead of Biden? Because he’s polling better in Iowa and New Hampshire, and because Biden has ZERO shot to win the nomination, and Richardson has a prayer. (It’s 1000 to 1 odds, but it’s a shot.)
BoruJudasDedrich: Oh how quickly you forget that for months your guy wasn’t even ranked in the top ten. I’d say being in 5th is better than not being in the top 10, eh? And just for fun, find us another ranking online where he’s this high…
“And just for fun, find us another ranking online where he’s this high…”
Ron Paul won 39% of the straw polls held since the debates began.
Ron Paul won all official debate polls except one. Not to mention the dozens of unofficial polls he won by landslides.
Ron Paul was in the top five per GOP campaign finances in Q2 and Q3..now he is in second place.
#1 in Straw polls
#1 in debate polls
#1 in unofficial online polls
#2 in finances
You can hate me for not kissing PD’s @ss if you want, but the core of this web site if either really flawed or really biased.
Mainstream polls are based on faulty assumptions (just asking people who voted for Bush) and on who is paying them (Mitt and Rudy).
But this is an online site with bright, savy, and ambitious writers. You are supposed to be ahead of the curve. Your OWN poll (with 500 attendees) showed Ron Paul winning by a giant margin (http://www.usastrawpolls.com/states/Nevada-Straw-Polls.html ), yet you defer your minds to the mainstream media stats.
I suppose your clients are the mainstream media. Thus, you have to reflect *their* stats. Not to mention, you have to appeal to the average Joe to keep traffic high. Profit before journalistic principles. People think capitalism requires people to sell out, but it is the opposite. And sure you can make a quick buck that way. But having integrity is what ultimately makes people and businesses successful in the long run.
So how long does PD want to stick around?
You didn’t answer my question. Find me another site with Power Rankings, like ours, (there are quite a few now) that gives your idol as much love as we do in our rankings.
And did I see another comment by you where you actually said Ron Paul would be supported by any party? That he could run as a democrat? On what planet? Cradle-to-grave liberals are going to support a limited government libertarian?
Sometimes you say things that make a lot of sense, sometimes you don’t. This is the latter and it makes me forget anything you might have said that actually had merit