Presidential Odds

Bad news for John McCain - he's becoming more of an underdog against Barack Obama instead of pulling closer. The betting odds now stand at:

John McCain +$155
Barack Obama -$190

Meaning - you would win $155 on a $100 bet on McCain or you could risk $190 to win just $100 on Obama. This is a reverse of the trend last mentioned here on September 13th. My guess is that the change in odds is due largely to people watching the first debate and saying "Obama isn't that bad."

Odds via Bodog.com

Odds to Win 2008 Presidential Election

Here are the current odds to win the 2008 Presidential Election (via Bodog):

John McCain 21 to 20

Barack Obama 21 to 20

Hillary Clinton 8 to 1

Hillary looks like a sucker bet at this point. If you like John McCain - I think you wait until the Democrats pick their candidate because his odds will get better (betting wise) at that point.

Odds to Win 2008 Presidential Election

John McCain has the Republican nomination all but wrapped up but there is still some excitement left in the Democratic race.

Currently Barack Obama is a big favorite to win the nomination at 2 to 11 odds (risk $11 dollars to win just $2). Hillary Clinton is currently a 4-1 underdog (who saw that coming 12 months ago?).

The Democrats are the big favorites to win the 2008 Presidential general election at 4 to 9 odds (risk $9 to win $4) while the Republicans are 11-8 underdogs. I think taking the Republicans would be the smart bet money wise. The odds are sure to tighten the closer we get to the election.

Odds via Bodog.com

Presidential Election Odds - Republicans

Here are the latest odds on who will win the Republican nomination for President (odds via Bodog).

Rudy Giuliani 3/2
Mike Huckabee 2/1
Ron Paul 5/2
Mitt Romney 9/2
John McCain 5/1
Fred Thompson 6/1
Newt Gingrich 9/1

Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are complete sucker bets and I'm guessing the odds are that short because people are betting on them as a joke. Mitt Romney and John McCain are the best bets if you ask me (in terms of chances and return on investment).

Presidential Election Odds - Democrats

It should be no surprise that (according to Bodog.com) Hillary Clinton is currently the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Hillary Clinton 1/6
Barack Obama 12/5
Al Gore 5/1
John Edwards 8/1
Dennis Kucinich 20/1
Joe Biden 30/1

Hillary is the big favorite but Barack is within striking distance and interestingly (or more accurately - alarmingly) John Edwards' promises of seizing powers Hugo Chavez style are improving his chances.

Personally I'm amused that the "serious" Joe Biden is given less chance than "tinfoil hat" Dennis Kucinich. I attribute that more to the relative hotness of Kucinich's wife but also to the relative blandness of Biden in general.

Odds to Win 2008 Presidential Election

Here are the current odds on who will win the 2008 Presidential race (via Bodog.com).

Hillary Clinton 3/2
Rudy Giuliani 15/4
Barack Obama 9/2
Fred Thompson 6/1
Mitt Romney 9/1
Al Gore 10/1
John Edwards 14/1
Mike Bloomberg 15/1
John McCain 16/1
Bill Richardson 40/1
Ron Paul 45/1
Mike Huckabee 55/1
Chris Dodd 60/1

I think once you get past the top 5 choices - then you start wandering into sucker bet territory.