I predict the following in the political realm:
* Huckabee will tank shortly after his narrow loss in Iowa. He may make it to South Carolina. The religious right who supported him will be despondent.
* Thompson will drop out after South Carolina (or perhaps slightly before). The federalists who supported him will be despondent.
* McCain will drop out after South Carolina, unless he finds a big sugar daddy...
* Guiliani will get big donations from NY and CA and stay in the race.
* Romney will continue to get big donations from his brethren.
* The religious right will be looking for someone to take their flag, and be split 3 ways: Hunter, Keyes, and no-one.
* The federalists will be looking for a consistent conservative will look at Keyes and Hunter of them, and dismiss Keyes because he seems so shrill. Then the Federalists will look at Hunter or Romney, and many will look at Romney and say he will win, so will vote for him. The rest will support Hunter or not care.
* If McCain drops out, Guiliani and Romney will be neck and neck. Hunter will continue his slow and steady progress.
* There will be much bad blood between the Romney and Guiliani supporters (just like there was between Romney and Huckabee supporters), and at the conventions Hunter will emerge as the Republican Nominee.
Meanwhile, on the dark side of the planet:
* Barack defeats Hillary in Iowa. East coast liberals immediately call for Iowa to no longer be first caucus in the nation (just like they called for an end to the electoral system when Al Gore lost)
* Dodd or Biden makes a surprisingly strong 4th place finish, very close to what Edwards gets in 3rd place. Whichever this one is, his campaign is invigorated.
* Edwards campaign tanks after Iowa. He was supposed to do better than a narrow 3rd place victory.
* Kucinich gets upgraded by the aliens, and is given hypnotic powers. He makes a third party run with both Ron Paul and Ralph Nader as his running mates. [I’m allowed a little humor in my predictions, right?]
* New Hampshire turns real dirty, and Hillary’s machine lets loose on Barach in a desperate ploy to not lose. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton talks about how Iowa mistreated his genius of a wife, and the only way Barack could have won was if the election was rigged.
* However, Barack unleashes Oprah, and she wrestles with Bill in Hand to Hand combat. Oprah wins, through details and sneakiness I dare not say, but is wounded in the melee.
* Barack lays hands upon her, and behold America has the opportunity to witness Revelation take place. Either with Oprah, or with Hillary. :-{P
* Hillary wins the New Hampshire election, and there is terribly bad blood between Hillary and Barack. Hillary arranges for Edwards support by promises she has no intention to keep, and is able to win South Carolina as well, however the voting irregularities will make Florida’s Miami and Dade county problems looking like a dress rehearsal.
* Barack will lose momentum as the press will turn on him. But Oprah will fund more of his campaign, hoping to keep it from hemorraging.
* Hillary goes into the convention with a narrow lead on delegates, but by no more than 5%, and the animosity at the Democratic convention (I pity the city that hosts them) will be so bad that rioting will break out. Of course Bush will be blamed for that as well....
* Hillary will make lots of promises behind closed doors and will have much more than 5% margin.
* Barack will regretfully yield, but only after being promised the position of Secretary of State.
* Hillary will be the nominee, but with some surprising vice presidential candidate.
And the winner??? Why, Duncan Hunter of course.
Happy new year to all!
Hope springs eternal! I like how you think.
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According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts
Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
In this poll Hunter is up 3% and even with Paul and Thompson.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3481ef60-8195-46a9-af04-b87b907bcfdd