If you're a sports fan, and you follow the betting odds, you've no doubt been amazed at how close the final score is to the point spread put up by the odds-makers. Of course there are exceptions (including a couple of last weekend's NFL playoff games) but on balance the ability of the odds-makers to pick not only the winners but by the correct margins is uncanny! So, enjoy the following predictions from Ireland's biggest and most successful bookmaker, Paddy Power.
Democratic Presidential Nominee
Applies to the candidate chosen at the Democratic National Convention in 2012 to run as the Democratic Candidate for President in the 2012 US Presidential Election.
Barack Obama 1/7
Hillary Clinton 6/1
Joe Biden 10/1
Evan Bayh 25/1
John Edwards 40/1
Al Gore 40/1
Bill Richardson 50/1
John Kerry 66/1
Kathleen Sebelius 66/1
Janet Napolitano 80/1
Wesley Clark 100/1
Caroline Kennedy 100/1
Mark Warner 100/1
Tom Daschle 100/1
Chris Dodd 150/1
Oprah 500/1
Republican Presidential Nominee
Applies to the candidate chosen at the Republican National Convention in 2012 to run as the Republican Candidate for President in the 2012 US Presidential Election.
Mitt Romney 3/1
Haley Barbour 4/1
Newt Gingrich 5/1
Sarah Palin 5/1
John Boehner 8/1
Mike Huckabee 10/1
Tim Pawlenty 10/1
Bobby Jindal 12/1
Fred Thompson 16/1
Chuck Hagel 18/1
David Petraeus 20/1
Jeb Bush 20/1
Rudolph Giuliani 20/1
Chuck Baldwin 20/1
Lindsey Graham 20/1
Tom Ridge 25/1
Ron Paul 25/1
John McCain 33/1
Condoleezza Rice 33/1
George Allen 33/1
John Ensign 33/1
George Pataki 40/1
Dick Cheney 100/1
Laura Bush 500/1
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Sarah Palin Gaffe Odds
Following the news that former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is set to become a regular contributor at Fox News, bookmaking outfit Paddy Power has already taken numerous bets on how long the gaffe-prone Alaskan governor will remain in Rupert Murdoch's employ.
Early betting points toward Sarah Palin being dropped by the global news broadcaster between September and December 2010 with Paddy Power offering odds of 10/11. Slightly longer odds of 11/10 are available on the 45 year-old politician keeping her broadcasting role at Fox News into 2011.
Paddy Power is also taking bets on which minority group the broadcasting newbie will first offend in her media role. Gay and Lesbian groups top the bookies shortlist at odds of 4/1 followed by Muslims and African Americans both at 6/1.
Paddy Power says "Where Sarah Palin goes controversy is generally not too far behind so we'll obviously be following her new career path with great interest"
When will Sarah Palin lose her Fox News position?
8/1 Before 01 September 2010
10/11 Between 01 September 2010 and 31 December 2010
11/10 After 01 January 2011
First Minority Group Sarah Palin offends
4/1 Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual
6/1 African American
6/1 Muslims
8/1 Single parents
10/1 Senior Citizens
10/1 The Poor
12/1 Arab Americans
14/1 Jews
16/1 Native American
16/1 Third world countries
18/1 Christians
20/1 Irish
25/1 Jehovah's Witness