This could not have played out any better for Rudy. With Huckabee winning Iowa, Romney winning Utah, and McCain winning New Hampshire, his strategy of aiming his efforts at Florida and beyond might payoff. It is still a muttled mess up top, and the head of steam created in Florida, might be unstoppable. This also played very well for Huckabee and McCain. Romney was the loser.

This also changes things for the Democrats, as Edwards is all but finished and his sizable pool of voters will now have to fit in with Hillary or Obama. I see this race turning nasty, as Obama is going to have to counter the mud Billary is fixing to fling.

It would be hard to guess which two will win nominations at this point. We do know one thing though, there is a Billionaire just waiting to pounce if things turn really negative.

I don't think Juliani had any worries anyway. McCain won't play big in south if he doesn't get tougher on stance and get on issues and less on personality. The south will push for issues questions to be answered. McCain will lose out there. However, a win in Michigan and NH would give him enough momentum to still be a solid player...so a win in Michigan will be a must for McCain.

As for dems...it pretty much proves out to be a two horse race. With the Women's vote going to be a huge factor for Clinton.

I was really upset when Hilary won last night.

I think the entire election is in the hands of John Edwards. If he realizes he is done and drops out early enough, throwing his support toward Obama, then Obama will win the primary and the election easily. If Edwards hangs around too long, Clinton will beat them both and a Clinton v. Guiliani election is as good as anyone's guess.

Actually, Edwards in the south could be a real problem for both Obama AND Clinton. Really dividing things up. Wonder who will step up to offer VP to Edwards to get his support first. But if it is a three horse race in the south..and Edwards pulls more....the democratic convention could be a real mess.

Edwards makes a great prim and proper little sissy girl!

He will be Obama's running mate while Clinton will opt for Richardson, who just dropped out.

If the Democrats are stupid enough to nominate Hillary (yes I mean just that), they are stupid enough to look at Republican majorities in both Houses and a Republican in the White House for quite some time. Hillary is not qualified to be the President. She has done precisely what to earn this job? She is a junior Senator from New York with how many years on the job?
Sorry, but the only one with a chance to win is Obama. He is charismatic and personable (both of which are characteristics Hillary is lacking in).
I once felt Hillary would be a formidable candidate, but now, after seeing her on the trail for a year, shirking her duties in the Senate, I see just how much respect she has for a job.

Very well said Catman. I can't stand Hilary.

but dont you think the average voting american thinks that a vote for hillary is just puting the clinton regime back in office? and clinton was well liked and had high ratings, so why not go back to hillary?

A lot of people hate Hilary.

I dislike Hillary because I feel she is fake. She wants the Presidency for HER, not because she cares about us. I do however have a better feeling about her Presidency than I do about Obama's. As Bomb mentioned, we do kinda know how Hillary will do things. The guy who scares me the most on the Dem side is Edwards. He is a total fraud in my opinion, and i guy that would promise anything to anybody, to get elected. His whole schtick is so canned. This sliver spooned rich kid being the most connected to the struggles of the poor???? GMAFB!

Actually, no.

Reason, since she has been in office she has totally disassociated herself from Bill, and alot of his policies. She has forced the issue that it is her and her alone. She is extremely polarizing, she comes off as pompous and all knowing, but most doubt her experience level and ability to rule. She won NH due to an increase in women's vote. I don't think that will float in the South. If she keeps going, the Democratic party will really be split when the convention hits. That will only help the republicans later on.

how much power does a president REALLY have though? theres all these issues debated at length, but in the end, how much can a president do alone? it seems to me that the president's two biggest roles are:

1) represent the country through foreign affairs and respond to the people in times of crisis
2) represent one's political party in that a good 4 year run means more members in congress from that party, or vice versa

sure there are other important things. declaring war obviously, veto power another big one, but ultimately a president can be overridden on almost anything by congress if they are strong enough on it, and he can do almost nothing on his own without their support.

so in the end, shouldnt i be trying to vote for the best face of our country, the best leader, the one person i can turn on my tv and have my fears assuaged when the next 9-11 type of event happens?

also i should note that its interesting, im finally getting into politics this year for the first time, and wouldnt you know it i live in illinois where we have to be like a million to 1 favorites to vote for obama automatically.

All ruling her out!

Rudy will not get the Republican nomination. It will be mccain or huckabee versus Obama with the Republicans keeping the White house. The Christian majority will not vote for Rudy based on his pro-abortion stance.

In theory, that may be true.

However please keep in mind that perception is reality when it comes to politics and foriegn relations.

Like it or not, a female president with the baggage she has will appear weak and make the US a target. Also, not to sound sexist, but the middle east, a very big hotbed of issues and Asia another big hot bed of issues has a very low respect for the female. So if elected, she really will need to show some back bone and leadership very quickly. Her whole speech during the one debate on there needs to be more negotiation and less action has me scared to death.

Also, with the positive vibes you get with the name Clinton, there is also the whole negative vibe as well. Please remember at one point globally Bill was a laughing stock due to his "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" speel.

I would also call out her total lack of experience in a foreign policy roll. However, that does not only hold for her, I would say Obama falls in there as well.

Net, I am not overly excited about any of the canidates...Dem or Rep. This very well could have been the year for a true Independant Canidate to run amok and actually get elected.

The Democrats' best chance to win the White House is that phony Edwards.....

No worries

If you are a Republican

i still will be absolutely shocked if a republican gets elected, given everything we've seen the last few years. the nation is leaning strongly democrat right now. if they mess this up, we could have rep presidents for awhile.

yes the people are leaning democrat right now but when it comes to the actual election day they will vote for the best candidate. As of right now John Mccain is the best candidate to run this country if he can pick up steam. As turfpro has already said Edwards has the best chance at winning for the democrats but hes not young and charasmatic like Obama but he will still take the south.