Obama fever is spreading again after the Des Moines Register article that he is putting together a top notch Iowa team and since the letter sent out today by Sen. Dick Durbin seeking support for Obama.
Obama talks with top advisers in Iowa
http://desmoinesregister.com/...
Run, Barack, Run! - From Sen. Dick Durbin
http://ga3.org/...
The 2008 race is moving faster that most of us may have imagined. The field is narrowing. The top people are in the process of being hired. The calls are going out to raise money.
These are my thoughts are where we are. Feel free to add yours.
HILLARY CLINTON
She has the money. She will have the best staff and consultants in the business. She has the biggest asset of all which is her husband Bill Clinton. Like Kerry she is not a favorite of the netroots but she has a long record of advocacy for many of the causes of progressives and liberals. She is strong in the national polls and state polls in the early primaries. If no other Democrat emerges she has the best chance of being the Democratic nominee.
BARUCK OBAMA
He is the hot new property in the Democratic Party. He has to prove if he is in for the long haul or is a flash in the pan. He is doing the right things at this point. He is lining up top Democratic consultants including some in Iowa who engineered a win for Kerry. He will do serious damage to the John Edards campaign.
JOHN EDWARDS
Until the rise of Obama in the polls John Edwards was well positioned to try to make it a two person race with Hillary Clinton. His biggest threat now is Obama and how to regain the momentum.
EVAN BAYH
Like Edwards he has to find a way to get into a two way race with Hillary.
BILL RICHARDSON
He has the potential to be a good candidate if he gets in the race. He has a long line ahead of him Obama, Edwards, and Bayh all trying to get into position against Hillary.
TOM VILSACK
The governor of Iowa who is the first announced candidate. He may do well in the Iowa caucus.
JOHN KERRY
Along with Hillary, Obama, Edwards, and Bayh he is one of the few candidates who has money in the bank (left over from 2004). He may run but he has a very uphill battle.
JOE BIDEN
He has a long record in the Senate. He has not done much to show he will get in the race.
WESLEY CLARK
He has a good resume like Bill Richardson but has not made any moves that would indicate he will be getting into the race.
CHRISTOPHER DODD
He has not made any moves lately either.
Unless another strong candidate enters the race I think it will come down to Hillary, Obama, Edwards and Bayh. Hillary is doing well enough in the polls she should do well in the early primaries leaving the rest of the field fighting for second and third place. Edwards will have to try to to get past Obama to have a shot at Hillary. Bayh will look for opportunities to move up. If Obama continues momentum he will likely finish in second place behind Hillary in many of the early primaries with Edwards and Bayh in third and fourth place.