r from being the norm, the collapse of the early front-runners in 2004 and 2008 was most unusual in the past three decades of presidential races. Indeed, from 1980 to 2000, the eventual nominee in eight of the 10 contested Democratic and Republican nomination races was the preprimary front-runner."} 66:{"position":10,"content":"This was true of Jimmy Carter, the Democratic nominee in 1980; Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate in 1984; George H. W. Bush, the Republican nominee in 1988 and 1992; Bill Clinton, the Democratic candidate in 1992; Bob Dole, the Republican nominee in 1996; Al Gore, the Democratic nominee in 2000; and George W. Bush, the Republican nominee in 2000."} 68:T501,

In both of the partial exceptions to this pattern, the eventual presidential nominee led the rest of the field on one of the two measures: In the race for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination, Ronald Reagan (who ultimately won the contest) led national polls of party identifiers, although John Connally was the leading fundraiser. In the battle for the 1988 Democratic nomination, Michael Dukakis (who eventually won the race) raised the most, but was behind in national polls on the eve of the Iowa caucus to Gary Hart.67:{"position":11,"content":"$68"} 69:{"position":12,"content":"For Oba

The race is on for 2012

A divisive, drawn-out Republican contest to challenge Obama is now more likely.