Odds on Who Will Be Republican Nominee for President in 2008

Here are the latest odds on who will be the Republican nominee for President in 2008 (odds via BoDog).

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 3/1
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani 4/1
Sen. John McCain 4/1
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 6/1
Gov. Mitt Romney 7/1
Sen. George Allen 9/1
Gov. Mike Huckabee 10/1
Sen. Bill Frist 11/1
Gov. Jeb Bush 13/1
Sen. Sam Brownback 15/1
Gov. George Pataki 20/1
Rep. Tom Tancredo 20/1
Gov. Haley Barbour 25/1
Sen. Chuck Hagel 25/1
Sen. Elizabeth Dole 30/1
Gov. Mark Sanford 35/1
Rep. Mike Pence 45/1
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson 45/1
John H. Cox 55/1

People with no chance include Gingrich (the story of how he divorced his wife precludes him from ever winning national office), Cox (never won a major election in his life), Mike Pence, Elizabeth Dole (she'll be 72 in 2008), Haley Barour (he promised not to run), and I'm of the mindset that John McCain has no shot because of his age (he'll be 72 in 2008) and because he's become too familiar and people will be looking at something new in 2008.

Long shots without much chance inglude Chuck Hagel, Tom Tancredo (single issue candidate - if immigration is big hot button in 2008 then he has an outside shot), Sam Brownback (his views on Intelligent Design sideline him in a national contest) and I like former Gov. Tommy Thompson because of his history with school choice programs but he's 45/1 for a reason.

I'm not convinced that Condolezza Rice will run (I'd put money that she won't) so I don't know why she tops the list. The rest of the candidates all have very good shots but I like Governor Mitt Romney at 7/1 and Senator George Allen at 9/1 as best bets.