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Some primers from those fellas at Political Betting. The Des Moines Register has Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama leading the polls in Iowa but not by much.

Odds from VC Bet ~ Result verified by Washington Post

To win the Iowa Caucus (Democrat) - Barack Obama 4/5, Hillary Clinton 6/4 and John Edwards 5/1
To win the Iowa Caucus (Republican) - Mike Huckabee 4/7, Mitt Romney 11/8, Ron Paul 16/1, John McCain 25/1 and Fred Thompson 50/1

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Well whaddya know!? Huckabee and Obama pissed it in Iowa.

Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1200 For the first time since announcing herself as a candidate, Hillary Clinton is no longer clear favourite to end up in the White House, say William Hill.

Hills have now demoted her and promoted Barack Obama in the betting so both are now joint favourites at 13/8 to win the race.

"Hillary was unchallenged favourite throughout 2007 but Barack Obama's momentum after Iowa has now brought him up alongside, and he is the one who has been attracting a string of hefty wagers while the biggest bet for Hillary since Iowa is a mere £200," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"Punters who have staked bets of up to £20,000 on Hillary, assuming her to be a certainty, are beginning to feel a little apprehensive even this early in the campaign."

Hills now make Obama clear 1/3 favourite to come out on top in New Hampshire, with Clinton offered at 9/4 and John Edwards 16/1.

Clinton and Obama are now 5/6 joint favourites to land the Democratic nomination with Hills, who offer John Edwards and Al Gore both at 20/1.

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Hmmm. A little insane on Paddy's behalf I think but Barack Obama keeps gaining momentum. Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1230: Paddy Power are now paying out on Barack Obama being the successful Democratic Presidential nominee for the race to the White House.

The early payout signals a £30,000 payday to punters who backed Obama over recent number weeks at odds ranging from 4/1 to 4/9.

Paddy Power's surprise decision - he's still 8/13 at Blue Square - comes almost a week after the Iowa primary election and just a day before the New Hampshire primary election where Obama is now a massive odds-on favourite at 1/12 to demolish his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Paddy Power said: "With each passing day Obama is looking more like a certainty to get the Democratic vote and as far as we're concerned he's already past the post.

"Whilst there is a way to go yet, punters and political observers to a man have been quick to latch on to the significance of Obama winning the Iowa caucus where more than 90% of the population are white."

Obama is now odds-on favourite at 10/11 to become the first African-American President whilst Clinton has drifted to 5/2.

Hills make Obama 5/4 favourite to be named President, with Clinton 15/8 and spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "Obama's surge to the front has stopped dead the betting support for Hillary Clinton which had made her odds-on favourite as the campaign got underway.

"Punters only want to back Obama at the moment and no-one is prepared to back Hillary until she produces evidence at the Primaries that she is still a contender and not already a busted flush."

Hills make John McCain 2/1 to win the Republican nomination and also offer 9/4 Rudolph Giuliani, 10/3 Mike Huckabee, 5/1 Mitt Romney, 12/1 Ron Paul, 16/1 Fred Thompson.

McCain is 13/2 to see off the Democrats and win the race to the White House.

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Everyone's jumping on the Obama wagon...today's Bettingzone Market News:

1100: Ahead of tonight’s primary in New Hampshire, Victor Chandler have laid a hefty six-figure bet on Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States.

The firm accepted the bet at 5/4 and admit that Obama’s surge in popularity could well see him win the Democratic nomination at the expense of Hillary Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton is under enormous pressure at the moment and some observers feel that she is fighting for her political life. She needs to re-group and get her campaign back on track or the race for the Democratic nomination could well be over," said the firm’s political spokesman Dave Jenkins.

Obama is expected to win in New Hampshire tonight but all eyes will be on the margin of victory.

If Clinton puts up a poor showing then Obama’s momentum could well be unstoppable, but the firm are hoping that the Clinton campaign holds its own.

"It might be folly to write Hillary Clinton off just yet. She is a tough lady and she won’t go down without a fight. But there’s no getting away from the fact that her back is firmly against the wall," Jenkins added.

Paddy Power reckon Obama winning the Democratic nomination is a done deal and paid out on him yesterday.

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Folly indeed as Barack Obama who was 33/1 ON (with Paddy Power) to win New Hampshire loses to Hillary Clinton!

I expect bookies will flip-flop and make Hillary odds-on to become US President now until further notice.

I'd admonish Paddy for paying out so quickly on Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination but um, there's no need to chastise 'em for it.

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Nothing you didn't know already if you've been keeping a relatively keen eye as to what's been happening.

Thursday's Bettingzone Market News:

1930: With John Kerry endorsing Barack Obama, William Hill have shortened his odds to 9/4 second favourite from 5/2 to win the US Election and lengthened favourite Hillary Clinton to 11/8 from 5/4.

"For senior member of the Party like Kerry to come out in favour of Obama strongly suggests that it has been done as much to act against Hillary's chances as to improve Barak's in our opinion," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills make John McCain 5/1 third favourite and also offer 8/1 Rudolph Giuliani, with Mike Huckabee being backed to 10/1 from 12/1, ahead of Messrs Bloomberg and Romney, who are both 20/1.

Clinton is 4/6 favourite to get the Democrat nomination with Hills who make Obama 11/10 and John Edwards 25/1.

Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1110: William Hill claim rumoured problems with fund-raising could affect former Mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani's bid to win the US Presidential Election and the firm have lengthened his odds as a result.

He's now 10/1 (from 8/1 fouth favourite and William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "Mr Giuliani was as short as 4/1 second favourite at one stage, but his campaign has yet to register any sort of high profile success and, now rumours suggest that he may be having problems attracting more funds, his odds are drifting.

Hills make Hillary Clinton 11/8 favourite to win the race for the White House and also offer 9/4 Barack Obama, 9/2 John McCain, 12/1 Mike Huckabee, 20/1 Mike Bloomberg and Mitt Romney.

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Voting in Michigan today....shame I'm more than bit late as betting on who'll win Michigan has stopped. Yesterday's Betting Market Moves though:

1830: John McCain has been cut from 9/2 to 4/1 third favourite to win the US Presidential Election with William Hill, who have also now made him odds-on favourite at 8/11 to win in Michigan, with Mitt Romney Evens and Mike Huckabee 16/1.

McCain is 4/5 favourite to get the nomination with Hills who have lengthened Rudolph Giuliani from 3/1 to 10/3, with Huckabee at 9/2 and Romney 8/1.

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Hmmm. Paddy's have odds up though now.

Who will win Michigan? John McCain 4/6, Mitt Romney 11/10, Mike Huckabee 14/1, Rudy Guiliani 66/1 and anybody else 33/1.

A couple of polls have John McCain ahead right now but who really knows?

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » …..Michigan…..Nevada…..South Carolina

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Romney won Michigan and Nevada. Clinton won Nevada and McCain wins South Carolina. Looks like Obama's in a jam if he doesn't win South Carolina.

Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1250: Paul Moody from VC Bet believes that Hillary Clinton will get the democratic vote and ultimately the presidency and make her their even money favourite to be the next president of the United States. Moody commented: "Clinton is being swept along on a tide of confidence and has got an awful lot going for her".

Winning Candidate (Next Elected President): Hillary Clinton (Dem) 1/1, Barack Obama (Dem) 11/4, John McCain (Rep) 7/2, Rudolph Giuliani (Rep) 9/1, Mitt Romney (Rep) 12/1, Michael Bloomberg (Independent) 20/1, Mike Huckabee (Rep) 40/1, Ron Paul (Rep) 100/1, John Edwards (Dem) 100/1, Fred Thompson (Rep) 150/1. OOR. Win only. All in run or not (settled on next elected President).

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Yesterday's Bettingzone Market News:

1620: With Fred Thompson dropping out of the race for the White House, punters believe that Mitt Romney could benefit by picking up much of his support.

William Hill have cut Romney from 4/1 to 5/2 second favourite to win the Republican nomination, and shortened him from 11/1 to 15/2 to emerge as President.

"Thompson's withdrawal could give Romney a useful boost and punters certainly believe so, as he has been well backed since Thompson quit," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

He added: "We have also seen some support for Rudolph Giuliani for the first time in a while and he is down from 14/1 to 10/1 to become President."

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Who's going to win Florida? Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1515: Mitt Romney is now odds-on favourite to come out on top in Florida for the Republicans, while Rudolph Giuliani's strategy seems to be in trouble - causing bookmakers William Hill to shorten Romney's odds and lengthen Giuliani's in the Presidential race.

Hills make Romney 8/15 to win in Florida with John McCain 7/4 second favourite and Giuliani offered at 9/1.

As a result, William Hill have now cut Romney from 8/1 to 6/1 fourth favourite to win the race to the White House, for which Hillary Clinton is even money favourite.

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Florida today and it's the Republicans turn to decide. I think the old fogies will decide this and they'll turn out in force for their fellow old fogey John McCain.

Odds-on on Betfair with Mitt Romney odds-against. 10/11 the pair over on Ladbrokes. £20 at 10/11 over at Ladbrokes that John McCain will win Florida just for fun.

The polls suggest they might do as well but of course, with New Hampshire everyone's quick to pounce on the unreliability of the polls.

Zogby International

Also the media were pretty quick to announce that Barack Obama's back in the race after winning a state he should bloody well have won...and he won South Carolina pretty handily as predicted.

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Hmmm. Yesterday's Bettingzone Market News:

1100: As Super Tuesday approaches, John McCain is set to become favourite for the first time in the race to the White House, say William Hill.

"Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been sharing favouritism for most of the campaign so far, but McCain has come strongly into the reckoning during this week and is now just behind Hillary and ahead of Obama in the betting," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"It would be little surprise to see him emerge from Super Tuesday as clear favourite if Clinton and Obama are still both in close contention for the Democrat nomination."

Hills make Clinton 11/8 favourite to be the next US President, with McCain 13/8 second favourite and Obama 11/4. They also offer 14/1 Mitt Romney, 33/1 Mike Bloomberg, 66/1 Mike Huckabee, 100/1 Ron Paul.

Clinton is 1/2 favourite to win the Democrat nomination with Hills, who make Obama 6/4 to do so.

McCain is red hot 1/7 favourite to get the Republican nomination with Hills, who also offer 4/1 Romney, 25/1 Huckabee, 50/1 Paul.

Party to win Election: 1/2 Dem, 6/4 Rep, 33/1 Independent.

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It's surely goinna be Clinton versus McCain? I'm surprised that William Hill are dangling 11/8 out there on Hillary Clinton becoming the US President as I was pretty sure the more heavy political punters will come storming in on that.

Not so pretty are a couple of prices on a couple of primaries at William Hill...

* Who will win the California primary? Clinton 1/3, Obama 9/4
* Who will win the New Jersey primary? Clinton 1/6, Obama 7/2

Super Tuesday specials:

* Who will win the most seats - Republicans? McCain 2/9, Romney 7/2, Huckabee 12/1 and Paul 50/1
* Who will win the most seats - Democrats? Clinton 1/4, Obama 11/4

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Hmmm. Today's Bettingzone Market Moves:

1400: Victor Chandler have slashed the price on Barack Obama winning the Democratic nomination to 11/10 after positive vibes from the polls in the lead up to Super Tuesday. Hillary Clinton is now out to 4/6 to take the nomination.

"The race for the Democratic nomination could well go down to the wire. Obama continues to keep pace with Hillary and it could well be extremely tight on Tuesday," said their political spokesman Dave Jenkins.

"The polls are suggesting a surge of support for Obama in the last few days, but we saw that before in New Hampshire and in that instance, Clinton managed to repel him.

"It'll be fascinating to see whether she can hold him at bay again," said Jenkins, whose firm took a six-figure bet on Obama to be the Next President in early December.

The Republican race seems to be all over bar the shouting, and VC are a big price on Mitt Romney at 13/2 to overcome John McCain and win the nomination.

"Romney has a few things going for him. He is head and shoulders above McCain when it comes to the economy and that is a big issue for Americans at the moment. The other is that many Republican party members do not like McCain and that might work against him.

"However ,the Republican public see McCain as their man and it'll probably be enough to see him through," said Jenkins.

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The aftermath...today's Bettingzone Market News:

0925: Hillary Clinton enjoyed the better day on 'Super Tuesday', according to the bookies as the race for the White House continued.

The New York senator won the California and New York primaries overnight and is now William Hill's 11/8 favourite to win November's presidential election.

However, she will first have to see off Democrat rival Barack Obama and, after the Illinois senator took more states than Clinton yesterday, that is still far from certain with some political commentators suggesting the Democrat nomination may not be decided until the party's summer convention.

Most layers trimmed Clinton's odds on winning the nomination and pushed Obama out. Hill's now go 4/7 Clinton and 5/4 Obama.

The race to become the Republican nominee is more clear cut with John McCain set to put his name on the ticket after impressing in yesterday's polls.

Hill's Graham Sharpe said: "John McCain will be delighted with his Super Tuesday results but Hillary and Barack are still virtually neck and neck in the race for the Democrat nomination."

McCain is now 13/8 to reach the White House, with Obama 9/4.