[Lurking Libertarian]

the race for the White House is wide open for the first time since 1928

Wrong. There was no incumbent President or Vice President running on either ticket in 1952.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Governors usually win too.

[Ligeia]

< snip >

MARK WARNER

Who is he? Former venture capitalist who served one term as governor of the solidly Republican state of Virginia.

Why take him seriously? Mr Warner was an extraordinarily popular and successful governor who was named one of the nation's five best by Time magazine. His ability to help his deputy Tim Kaine to succeed him cemented his reputation as a man able to win in Republican territory. He is independently wealthy - and Washington Post research shows that only Hillary Clinton among Democrats has a larger staff working on getting him elected in 2008.

What's going to stand in his way? Mr Warner is not yet nationally known, and his four years as governor of Virginia - which limits its governors to one term - do not constitute a wealth of experience, particularly in foreign affairs or security. He can come across as physically ill at ease.

Did you know? His venture capital firm provided the initial backing for the communications firm Nextel - the success of which made an already wealthy man extremely rich.

GEORGE ALLEN

Who is he? Rock-solid conservative senator from Virginia, a state he governed from 1994 to 1998.

Why take him seriously? George Allen was an effective chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, helping his party to pick up four seats in the Senate - and earning the gratitude of his party. He is a charismatic speaker who has already begun to put campaign staff into place, and is among the top Republicans in terms of fundraising for 2008.

What's going to stand in his way? The New Republic magazine ran a lengthy profile of Sen Allen in May 2006 alleging that he was all but obsessed as a young man with the Confederate flag - a still-controversial symbol which many Americans associate with racism. He is also facing a tougher-than-expected re-election campaign, distracting him from national ambitions at a time when opponents are laying the groundwork for White House bids.

Did you know? Sen Allen's father was a legendary American football coach also named George Allen, and his son often incorporates sports metaphors into his speeches.

< snip >

[AzaleaCity5691]

They're leaving out important people, and for one thing, we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if we nominated Mitt Romney or anyone from the Northeast, because my sneaking suspicion is, the Democrats run a Southern moderate. In times where we run non-Southerners, against the Southerner, we bleed in the South. Haley Barbour would be ideal. If Riley survives this year (I don't see how this doesn't happen), he'd be a great nominee. But how clear can I make this, we have to have a Southerner on top, because the South is not as solid as people would like to think.

[RightWhale]

Hillary seems to be getting national press today. Algore, too. Any Republicans?

[Vision]

There's something strange about the BBC getting so excited about our elections. But I guess when you let Muslims take over your country you need some distraction from reality. Real Sad.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Interesting, EVAN BAYH is one of the parties behind this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641423/posts

[R.W.Ratikal]

Republicans have political PR problems. But Democrats have a more troubling problem: the party is in serious decline.

When a political party has lost election after election, a large part of its voting base and is uh able to raise money from its core constituents, leaders like Hillary Clinton and Al Gore are the best it can attract.

The Democrat's real problem is that it has become the mirror-image of the Socialist Labor Party in England.

Socialism is a hard sell to a rich nation. Democrats dare not talk about their real socialist agenda but must appear to be supporters of the system they want to tear down.

My guess for the Democrat presidential front runners in 08: Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Wes Clark and probably Lyndon LaRouch.

The dream ticket for Republicans is: Jeb Bush for president and Condi Rice for Veep.

Such a ticket is actually possible because the major media has lost much of its influence as a leftist propaganda arm to other information sources such as conservative talk radio, the internet and a resurgence of conservatism.

[GOPANDCHRISTIANTOO]

Whoever wrote this should bone up a little on American history. In 1928, Herbert Hoover ran against Al Smith, and neither of them was an incumbent president or vice president. The author seems to be unaware that in 1952, Dwight Eisenhower, a retired general, ran against Adlai Stevenson, the governor of Illinois. I don't think the 1928 election was any more wide open than the 1952 election. When 2008 comes, both parties will probably rush to judgment, as the Democrats did in 2004, selecting a front runner as quickly as possible, and the excitement in both parties may last less than six weeks. I bet it won't be as interesting, nor the candidates as professional, as they were in the 1960 election.