Back in 1996, as Bill Clinton's chief strategist, Mark Penn championed the pivotal importance of niche group/trend, "soccer moms." This year, as Hillary Clinton's chief strategist, Penn championed the importance of...Mark Penn. With only hours to go before election day, here's a list of the other niche groups/trends that may yet decide the outcome of campaign 2008:

Troglo-Voters: People who are sufficiently misinformed that they believe Barack Obama is a follower of Muslim cleric, Bob Barr.

Teen Bridols: Off-Spring of candidates whose personal lives are a good fit with their parents' political views in much the same way that Jamie Lynn Spears would be a good fit as private secretary to the Pope.

FED-EXERS: Former Federal Reserve Chairmen who leave office just before a financial crisis for which they are partially responsible, thereby besting all previous examples of, "timing the market."

Übermanns: MSNBC talk show hosts who preach to the converted, but are so overweening that the converted switch channels to The O'Reilly Factor.

Governors Gone Wild: Politicians caught in sexual imbroglios who then hold press conferences to offer mea culpas which are attended by their wives, raising the question, "is there anything your husband could do that would have caused you not to attend?!" (Special mention: Cindy McCain has the stoned out look of the wife of penitent at all campaign rallies. Significance is yours to interpret.)

Aides-de-C-Span: This niche group can be seen sitting behind senators or members of Congress during important congressional hearings whispering to each other and giggling, leading one to believe that all members of Congress are deaf. Further research is needed to find out: Were these kids raised in a barn?

Weak Endorsers: Those who are defeated in a political campaigns who then offer endorsements so tepid that the endorsed doesn't know if they are being praised or hearing the bill of particulars contained in their grand jury indictment.

On-Messengers: Campaign surrogates who answer, "Barack Obama is the change candidate," or "John McCain is a maverick," in response to the question, "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

And, last but not least:

Rope-liners: Plumbers, waitresses etc. referenced by presidential candidates as folks concerned about health care, tax brackets etc. Their 15 minutes of fame ends when the former candidate, now president, abandons the legislation they promised would address their concerns about health care, tax brackets, etc. 15 minutes of fame expands to 30 minutes if they become star of reality show.