Now the race for president gets in gear

The midterms effectively ended the presidential ambitions of two Republican senators - Rick Santorum and George Allen, whose Senate fate was still uncertain.

The campaign also damaged the prospects of Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee who wasn't even on the ballot. Like other 2008 hopefuls, Kerry had been traveling the country to raise money and attention for midterm candidates, and he put his foot in his mouth by suggesting that students who don't study could end up stuck in Iraq.

Kerry said it was a botched joke about Bush, but Republicans used it to suggest that the Vietnam veteran was criticizing U.S. troops.

Kerry was forced to cancel campaign appearances so he wouldn't become a distraction to Democratic candidates, but his advisers promised he would be back out soon to talk about 2008.

Kerry and other Democratic hopefuls will have a tough challenge in Clinton should she decide to enter the race. She is the clear fundraising leader and has worked to build a moderate image in the last couple of years. Still, some Democrats are concerned that she is so polarizing that she couldn't win a general election.

The Obama factor
Bayh and Vilsack can claim Midwestern values and experience winning elections in red states, although both have to build their name recognition outside their home base.

Other Democrats are claiming the foreign policy credentials to lead in a time of war - Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, Arkansas' Wesley Clark is a retired four-star general and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is a former ambassador to the United Nations who has represented U.S. interests throughout the world. But all three have a challenge to rise to the top tier of candidates, as do Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.

Politics Click here to share your thoughts on political matters, including the economic crisis and what you think Congress and president can do about the problems.

The biggest question on the Democratic side is whether Obama will enter the race. The senator has been drawing a rock star reception on travels around the country this year that is unmatched by any other potential candidate. Yet he's only served two years in the Senate, leading to questions about whether he has the credentials to be president.

Still, Obama and Clinton were tied at the top of an Associated Press-AOL News poll conducted late last month. Each were selected by about one-fifth of registered Democratic voters surveyed.

GOP potentials
On the Republican side, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Giuliani and McCain were essentially tied with support of about one in 10 questioned in the same poll. Rice has insisted that she will not run.

The Republican side splits into three tiers, with McCain and Romney at the top because of their early organization and broad appeal. McCain has alternately challenged and embraced Bush, building a reputation as a maverick who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Romney is clearly positioning himself as the alternative to McCain, especially among religious conservatives.

Others who have raised significant funds are Guiliani and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. But both face questions about whether they can win support from Republican primary voters - Guiliani because of his liberal views on social issues including gay rights, gun control and legal abortion and Frist because of problems in the Senate caucus that he led.

More long-shot candidates on the GOP side include New York Gov. George Pataki, Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Most face problems building name recognition or raising the money that will be necessary to compete in this highly competitive race.

Republican New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg could launch an independent presidential campaign, with billions in the bank to self-fund. He has denied that he is interested - most recently while promoting Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman's successful independent bid for re-election - but some of his friends have privately promoted the idea of his outsider appeal.

Each side has two imposing figures who have insisted that they are not running to replace Bush but could turn the race upside down if they changed their mind. They are Rice and former Vice President Al Gore.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Senate preserves long-term care program Obama shifts date of climate summit visit Unexpected drop in jobless rate fuels optimism Obama's stylish aide under withering scrutiny   Aide: Baucus nominated girlfriend for fed post Blagojevich's legal team burglarized Houston mayor enters Texas governor's race Reid cooks up health-care deal Atlanta contest shows battered black electorate Homeland Security chairman faces ethics probe Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: