7 Questions as the Race for the White House Accelerates

Second, the race looks far different in Iowa than it does nationally. There, Clinton is in a three-way contest with Obama and Edwards, and the results could affect subsequent contests. As an Edwards loyalist said, "If she loses Iowa, that changes everything."

A Democrat who spends considerable time outside the Beltway pointed to Clinton's weakness. "When you talk to people outside of Washington, D.C., and New York, they are not convinced about Clinton. Particularly in the South, they think she will cost Democrats seats in the legislature -- and self-preservation counts."

But is Obama up to the battle? Some Democrats and Republicans expressed doubts. "Obama has lost his mojo, but he has a little bit of time to find it," one former Bush White House official said. Another Republican said, "He's right where people's heads are but can't fill it in."

Democratic strategist Matt Bennett said Clinton has run a nearly flawless campaign, but added: "I'd argue that Obama has actually gained momentum in certain respects: He seems to be really hitting his stride now on the stump. The question is whether he can close the gap. There's plenty of time, but she may need to stumble for him to make up ground."

Is there a Republican front-runner?

Yes. Two actually, depending on how you read the race and history: Giuliani and Romney.

By one historical parallel, Giuliani is on a path to win. That's because every Republican since Eisenhower who has led the field in the Gallup poll taken around the Labor Day before the primaries has won the nomination. George W. Bush, Bob Dole, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater -- all led as the campaign passed the Labor Day marker.

Giuliani once was seen as an implausible nominee, given his positions on abortion and gay rights. Today some of those doubts have receded. But historical comparisons can be misleading.

For example, interpret history another way and you conclude that Romney is well positioned to win. He's staked his hopes on Iowa and New Hampshire and generating momentum, what Bush 41 called in 1980 the "Big Mo." The elder Bush used that expression after winning the Iowa caucuses, only to fall to Reagan in New Hampshire.

But Romney faces tough odds. No Republican in the modern era has won both Iowa and New Hampshire. If Romney manages to break that pattern, he could be hard to beat. If he fails, the calendar could open up for Giuliani or someone else.

That would be Thompson, McCain or perhaps Huckabee. Some strategists see potential life in McCain's battered candidacy. Thompson arrives to great expectations but even more questions. Huckabee is on a roll after finishing second in the Iowa straw poll, but he lacks resources.

That's why there was such disagreement among the strategists. Some said there is no front-runner. Ayres called Giuliani the national front-runner, Romney the "insiders' front-runner" and Thompson, who plans to formally enter the race Thursday, "a giant question mark."

Is anyone on either side positioned to break into the top tier?

There was a near-unanimous view that, among Republicans, only Huckabee has the potential to do so. But there was an equally strong view that it will be awfully difficult.