Hillary fights to retain pole position

If there's one man in Washington who is not swayed by Barack Obama it is Terry McCauliffe. The former chairman of the Democratic Party is backing their other star to take the nomination. "She is winning," he said at a party in Washington to launch his newly-penned book. "It's her turn."

Then again, he would say that as he is leading her campaign team but the numbers are, for now, on his side. The polls suggest Mrs Clinton is pulling well away from her nearest rivals, Senators Obama and John Edwards.One published earlier this week by Rasmussen put her on 34 points, Mr Obama on 18 and Mr Edwards on 10.

Three weeks earlier, at the height of Obama-mania when the Illinois Senator indicated his intention to run, he was within a point of Mrs Clinton.

Of course, it is still a year from the primary elections that will decide each party's nomination but among some circles at least there is a growing sense that Mrs Clinton's name-recognition, fund-raising abilities, the campaigning powers of her husband and the Juggernaut-like strength of her political operation may be too much for her challengers to overcome. This week it was even reported that in many Republican circles Mrs Clinton's victory is seen as a near inevitability.

Former House majority leader Tom DeLay told The Politico newspaper: "If the conservative movement and Republicans don't understand how massive the Clinton coalition is, she will be the next president."

Republican Rep Steve King of Iowa, added: "At this point, short of an inspirational Republican nominee, then I would agree that it's going to be very difficult to beat Hillary if she wins the nomination."

Rivals in the presidential race

* DEMOCRAT

Joe Biden, Delaware Senator; Chris Dodd, Connecticut Senator; Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Rep; Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor; Al Gore, former vice-president; John Edwards, Gore's running mate; Tom Vilsack; Mike Gravel

* REPUBLICAN

Chuck Hagel, Nebraska Senator; Sam Brownback, Kansas Senator; Rudy Giuliani; John McCain; Mike Huckabee, Arkansas Governor; George Pataki, New York Governor; Mitt Romney, ex-Massachusetts governor; Newt Gingrich