MANCHESTER, N.H. - In the course of three short months, the political system has come full circle: a presidential campaign, an inauguration, a State of the Union address and now this - another presidential race.
A dozen or so ambitious Republicans and Democrats already are warming up for 2008.
Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards is taking on poverty and showing off a new stump speech. Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has donated more than $250,000 to GOP causes, collecting political IOUs while planning visits to early voting states.
No list could be made without mentioning Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. - two political Goliaths who cannot make a move without being accused of presidential posturing.
"Many, many people on both sides will spend the next couple of years putting themselves in a position so they can decide whether or not to run," Bayh adviser Anita Dunn said.
"If two years from now, you're just getting started on building a political team, two things will happen: All the top talent will be gone and, more importantly, you'll start out with a team that's not cohesive," she said.
