With the Presidential primaries less than a year and a half away, I thought it would be a good time to take a quick look at some of the candidates that are frequently mentioned to have ambitions for the White House. I'm starting with the Democrats and I'll have some of the possible Republican candidates later in the week.

Candidates that have formed exploratory committees, filed with the FEC or are announced candidates...
- Joe Biden (DE): A current United States Senator from Delaware. Currently serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and will chair the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. Previously ran for President in 1988, but withdrew after plagiarizing a speech.

- Evan Bayh (IN): A current United States Senator from Indiana, also a former Governor, a very Republican leaning state. Largely considered to be a more moderate to conservative Democrat. Voted to reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act in 2006 and serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence.

- Christopher Dodd (CT): Currently a United States Senator from Connecticut. One of the more anti-Second Amendment Senators, rated with an F- from the Gun Owners of America. Served as a Congressman from the 2nd District in Connecticut for three terms before being elected as a Senator and is also a former chairman of the DNC.

- Mike Gravel (VA): A former United States Senator from Alaska (1969 to 1981). Gravel supports the national retail sales tax and a direct democracy (majority rule).

- Dennis Kucinich: Currently a United State Congressman from Ohio, former mayor of Cleveland and 2004 Presidential candidate. Likely the most liberal candidate of the group that has announced their intent to run. Wants to establish a "department of peace" and as well as launch an anti-capitalist agenda.

- Bill Richardson (NM): Currently Governor of New Mexico and a former Congressman (1983-1997), UN Ambassador and Secretary of Energy. Easily won a second term as Governor in 2006. Voted a pro-private property rights bill that would have protected property owners from eminent domain. Generally considered to be a moderate within his party.
[UPDATED 12/7/2006] Richardson has confirmed that he is running for President.

- Tom Vilsack (IA): Currently serves as Governor of Iowa. He seemed supportive of the war in Iraq in May of this year, it seems he has now changed his tune.

Candidates that are considering running...
- Wesley Clark (AR): A candidate for President in 2004 and retired General. Was endorsed by ultra-liberal Michael Moore and won the Oklahoma primary. It's a crowded field this year. I don't think he'll have the same popularity that he had in 2004.

- Hillary Clinton (NY): A current United States Senator from New York and former First Lady. Considered by many to be the frontrunner for the nomination. Some believe she is too polarizing and unelectable.

- John Edwards (NC): A former United States Senator from North Carolina. Know best for his "two Americas" rhetoric. Was recently caught in a controversy involving Wal-Mart and a PS3. Like Clark, I don't believe he'll have the same popularity that he had in 2004.

- John Kerry (MA): A current United States Senator from Massachusetts and 2004 Democratic Party nominee for President. Ran a sub-par campaign in 2004 and failed to respond to questions about his military service. Recently finished last in a "likability" poll of possible candidates for 2008. Possibly damaged 2008 prospects with his botched joke preceding the 2006 mid-terms.

- Barack Obama (IL): A current United States Senator from Massachusetts. Obama is a rising star within the Democratic Party. Supported government transparency legislation and other anti-pork efforts and is attempting shaping himself to be a moderate from a liberal state.

Updated on 12/11/06 at 4:52pm.