The attention of the political betting world is focused on New Hampshire where a critical phase of the presidential primaries will take place on Tuesday. It is widely considered that the result of this primary will reveal who is to be the new incumbent in the Oval Office come January 2009.

Online betting is hotting up in a contest which involves more than just party political consideration. ItÂ’s pretty rare in US presidential politics that the end result is so unpredictable and this is certainly partly due to the unpopularity of George Bush and the Republican Party in general, thus rendering a Democrat win likely. What makes this presidential race more interesting is the previously unheard of candidature of both a woman and a black man.

The involvement of these two people, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, a vastly experienced Senator and a figure for change, respectively, digs deep into the prejudices of the American people. Who do they fear the least, a woman or a black skinned man? If Iowa is anything to go by, misogyny rules, and they will prefer the manly qualities of Mr Obama over the feminine appeal of Ms Clinton.

Sports betting fans will note, however, that Iowa also chose Mike Huckabee as their favoured Republican candidate. Mr Huckabee thinks the world was created 6000 years ago and God did it. Furthermore, New Hampshire has a belief in its political sophistication and a treasured history of overturning the Ohio preference so, despite Barack’s fresh appeal, he may yet be shown the door. As John Sununu said, ‘Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents’.

On the Republican side, things are equally, if not more, unpredictable. ItÂ’s likely that their candidate will emerge from a tussle between John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. ItÂ’s anybodyÂ’s guess but, if I were you, IÂ’d keep my eye on McCain.