BERNIE SANDERS
Nomination $2.62
Presidency: $6.2
Although Sanders didn’t have the clear victory that the betting projected in Iowa, he definitely emerges as the front-runner. He’s trading below $1.20 and $1.50 to win the next races in New Hampshire and Nevada respectively. If he delivers in both, he would surely be heavily odds-on for the nomination.
Why, therefore, is he available to back above $2.50? A view that Democrat voters will eventually coalesce around a more moderate alternative. Sanders is nowhere near 50% nationally, or even it seems in New Hampshire. Even with a fast start, he may not win a majority of delegates, thus prompting speculation of a contested, or brokered, Democrat Convention.
The market will likely resist Sanders all year to some extent, because hype about an establishment stitch-up against him will proliferate. In many respects, this Democrat race is beginning to mirror the 2016 Republican race, when outsider Trump fought mulitple establishment candidates. We know how that ended. Bernie’s odds for both markets are pretty generous and likely to shorten in the weeks ahead.
MIKE BLOOMBERG
Nomination: $5.80
President: $9.60
Nothing should surprise us anymore in politics but this did catch me out. Bloomberg – a former Republican, a billionaire, without campaigning in an early state or appearing on a debate stage – has stormed to second place. Is the gamble inspired or insane?
It depends whether beating Trump at all costs is more important than specific policies to Democrat voters. Bloomberg is already polling well, notably against Trump. Of all the candidates, I think he’d fare best. He knows how to beat him – strategically and rhetorically.
However, I am skeptical primary voters will see it that way. A billionaire trying to buy the Presidency? That’s meat and drink to Bernie Sanders. I’m not dismissive at all of Bloomberg, but need to see a lot more polling evidence in specific primaries to get excited.
JOE BIDEN
Nomination: $6.60
President: $16
One thing I did call right was Biden’s poor show in Iowa. This is the beginning of the end. The former VP is the classic bad early favourite of primary folklore. Propped up by polls based on name recognition, familiarity and lack of engagement with alternatives. Voters generally only engage on a deeper level close to polling day. He was a bad candidate at his peak and now past his sell-by date.
Yet he’s still relatively popular in the betting. Again, I think this is just a matter of polls catching up. Opinion dynamics move very fast during primary season. He isn’t engaging anyone and establishment endorsements mean ever less. I think he’ll be trounced in the next two races, then lose South Carolina and quit the race.
Click here to read the full piece, free of charge, for The Hub