Analysis: One Year Before the 2008 Presidential Election

Ron Paul, once a beyond-the fringe GOP presidential candidate, is now suddenly chic.

On Nov. 5, the Texas libertarian stirred interest when his fundraising campaign netted around $4 million in a day. It topped Mitt Romney's $3.1 million raised back in January and, as a daily online record, is only second to John Kerry's robust $5.8 million in 2004.

What does this mean, if anything?

Will Paul gain traction in the early states, force the heavy hitters to re-evaluate their strategies and perhaps even vault himself to Mike Huckabee-like status as a second-tier candidate? Or is Paul's Nov. 5 performance merely an indication that a presidential campaign, in a very fractured and niche media world, is skittish at best?

Of course, this election isn't about Ron Paul. It is, however, about candidates like him. They may not win, but they're causing enough commotion for pundits to comprehend this: The GOP race isn't as have-and-have-not as first believed.

If frontrunners pegged Paul merely as an afterthought, an amusing side circus or -- even less innocuous -- as insignificant, they might reconsider. While Paul certainly won't win the nomination, he gives pause to campaigns that believe their strategies are top-notch. At the very least, he shows Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson that they might be taking their top-heavy status for granted a full year before ballots are cast.

With Ron Paul in mind, here are some questions to ponder at the one-year-away mark:

Is Hillary in trouble in New Hampshire?

Hillary Clinton's lead in New Hampshire is diminishing, and according to this piece, is at its lowest level in some time. Nevertheless, she still holds a somewhat comfortable 10-point lead over Barack Obama. And, she's still leading in New York, Minnesota and with women (but not Democratic men).

What's the most bizarre story recently?

* Obama raised some eyebrows when he allegedly forgot to place his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. An AC Content Producer wrote about it. He wrote her back. Read Obama's letter here.

Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani.

Credit: U.S. Government, Rene Schwietzke, WikiCommons

Copyright: U.S. Government, Rene Schwietzke, WikiCommons