It will be a complete cluster **** by Nov 2008.
Republicans have selected, Rudy Guiliani (?), Mitt Romney, Condi Rice, and Fred Thompson. Tommy Thompson, Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich will be the GOP stalkers.
I can only remember how Howierd Dean was annointed so early in the 2004 process only to fall from grace when reality overcame the hype.