Romney & Obama - Forget POTUS

Both men are running good campaigns, but amateur mistakes abound.

Mitt Romney keeps running headfirst into his record as he presents himself as a bona fide conservative (the latest: pardons). An early money advantage propped up a strong organizational advantage in Iowa (as proven by McCain and Guiliani dropping out of the Ames straw poll this August) but the caucuses are still six month away and his advantage will dissipate (he'll peak in August). Anything short of a Romney blowout in New Hampshire will essentially end his campaign.

As for Barack Obama, his campaign continues to confirm it just won't maintain its polish while tussling with a sophisticated, battle hardened political machine (ex. leaking excerpts from books critical of Hillary during Memorial Day weekend). The Clintons will eventually drag Obama through the mud and come out, themselves, smelling like roses as Hillary takes the Democrat nomination in 2008.