The 2008 presidential election is shaping up as the most wide open in modern history.
For the first time since 1928, there is no sitting president or vice president seeking the White House. And with just days to go before the first '08 contest, the top tier of candidates is tightly bunched in both parties.
The early Democratic frontrunner, former first lady Hillary Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York, will be tested by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses and the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary.
No leader has emerged from a large Republican pack.
Ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney lead in Iowa, and Romney is trying to hold off U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona in New Hampshire.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and ex-Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson are hoping to sweep through Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, when more than 40 percent of delegates will be chosen.
The wild card in the race may well be U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, an anti-war, anti-government maverick who has banked more campaign cash than any other candidate in the GOP field.
Yahoo! MyWeb
