The 2008 Presidential Election: An Overview of Potential Nominees

The 2008 Presidential election is still quite a ways away, yet several possible candidates from each political party, Democrats and Republicans, have been jockeying for their party's nomination for the last few months. This next election will certainly turn out to be an interesting one, if only for the sheer diversity and difference that this one seems to represent.

On the Democrats side, the two front runners appear to be the well-known Hillary Rodham Clinton and the much-heralded new face, Barack Obama. Following them are Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, and John Edwards, three familiar names in politics.

It's no surprise that Hillary is running, as she has been a big name in the game for quite some time now. She has the money, a large support base, and is easily one of the most recognizable figures in this race. What's interesting here is the fact that she is a woman-something American has not had as it's Commander-in-Chief before, and this fact alone may make it much harder for her to win. Her husband, Bill Clinton, was a rather divisive figure, and his linkage to her may make it more difficult for the American people to accept her.

Barack Obama, the fresh face from Illinois, seems to be running in 2^nd place behind Hillary as a favorite for the Democratic nomination, yet he is still an incredibly popular contender. He's been called "America's hottest political phenomenon" by Time magazine, has made much money off of his book on his life, and has made waves not only in Washington D.C., but also throughout the nation. He's attempted to be more bipartisan than other candidates, even speaking at Evangelical Christian churches, in an attempt to woo what has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. He's also from a mixed family; his father was Kenyan, his mother from Kansas. While there have been several candidates in the past, who have had African heritage, it's probably safe to say that none have garnered as much attention as Obama.