You forgot the most important fact. To be in the presidential election, over a year from now, you have to win the primaries. They start in about 100 days.
Are you sure?
Last I heard, several states were still jockeying for time slots. Even heard Florida was told it’s delegates wouldn’t be seated because of its date change.
Have even heard rumors some primaries may be in 07 so as to be 1st. Seems to me that way too many of the primary dates are “unsettled”.
Your point is well taken however, in that the ‘08 election, to date, has been more of a circus than a serious election process.