Some may think the run for the White House starts too early. After all, we are a full 18 months away from the 2008 elections and the wannabee commanders-in-chief have been crisscrossing the county for longer than the Gerald Ford administration.

There are a million reasons for this -- $100 million to be exact. That is the number that Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana estimates must be raised to launch a legitimate campaign for the presidency.

That huge dollar amount is also the reason that Sen. Bayh declined to pursue the presidency. And that's a pity for us. He would have made not only a formidable candidate but a fine president.

While it may seem tempting to handicap the presidential race, putting the candidates in brackets, debating the match-ups, and placing our bets--the future of our country is far more important than NCAA March Madness.

At this early stage there are only three Democrats who are registering on the radar: Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, and John Edwards. Of them, Senator Clinton has the best name recognition and most likely the biggest war chest. She may even be the most intelligent and knowledgeable. However, Clinton also brings a boatload of baggage that may be hard for Middle America to carry.

While John Edwards has only limited experience in Washington, serving just one term as a senator, he does have an innate sense of what the nation needs and how to address some of the more pressing problems of the nation. The health care crisis is the most important domestic issue facing our future and Edwards has a grasp of that. As a former trial attorney, he is extremely articulate and his personal life is above reproach.

Barak Obama first came to the national conscience at the Democratic Convention of 2004. His speech caught the imagination of a nation. Whether you are Republican or Democrat, you cannot read his remarks without being stirred.

He may be a new face in Washington, but he brings a fresh face of optimism, a lack of cynicism, and a voting record that stands firm.

His best-selling book, The Audacity of Hope should be required reading for every leader who wishes to inspire. Another point in his favor is that unlike John Kerry, who ignored and dismissed attacks on his character, Obama has quickly and forcefully responded to critics.

In the early days of the 2008 campaign season, Senator Barak Obama is the candidate I would most like to see win the Democratic nomination for president.