Clinton vs. Romney

The first election returns are in for the 2008 presidential sweepstakes.  It's Hillary Clinton vs. Mitt Romney with Hillary getting the early nod.  Said another way - it's $26 million to $23 million in their respective campaign war chests.  And a vote will not be cast for another nine months or so.

2008 represents the first time since 1952 that neither party will have an incumbent president or vice president in the running.  That factor along with the truncated primary schedule next winter is the reason we are being exposed to the unprecedented level of campaigning we are seeing in the spring of 2007 for an election that will be in November of 2008.

Another interesting fact about this election is that with Hillary Clinton in the running, it could continue the string of presidential elections since 1980 that will include either a Bush or a Clinton as either a presidential or vice presidential candidate.  And as Brady points out, there could be another familiar name in the running in 2008.

I'm a political junkie, but even this early start is too much for me.  It makes me wonder if the ultimate winner in November of 2008 is someone we have yet to hear from.  The stacked schedule of primaries would seem to make it impossible for someone who has yet to announce their intentions be able to win.  But it is also possible that we all could grow weary of those already out there asking us for our votes - and our money.