If President Donald Trump survives his first term, oddsmakers have made him the heavy favorite to get a second. The polarizing politician�s popularity has plummeted in polls, but Paddy Power posted the portly Trump as its pick to win in November 2020.
The Ireland-based site, which has its own division dedicated to creating lines and satire regarding Trump, has him at 5/4 to get reelected. Former Vice President under President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and current VP Mike Pence are next at 10/1.
BetOnline has Trump at 7/5 for a second term, William Hill has him listed at 5/4, and Ladbrokes put his chances at 11/8. The most favorable odds are at Betfair Exchange and Smarkets, where he is 6/4.
Harris, Sanders, Warren as Unofficial Contendors
The next presidential election is a little more than two years away and no one has officially announced his or her candidacy. That hasn�t stopped the internet betting sites from putting odds on who they think can defeat Trump.
The current frontrunner among the challengers is Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). The outspoken former attorney general of California who won Barbara Boxer�s senate seat in 2016 has been a vocal critic of the president and his cabinet. She is one of the senators presiding over a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on “Policy Response to Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Elections.”
Despite having only two years of experience as a federal lawmaker, sportsbooks have Harris as a total frontrunner, anywhere from a 9/1 to 12/1 pick.
Behind her is Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The outspoken Democrat who lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary is tied with Harris at some sites at 9/1, but is mostly at 12/1 or 14/1.
Next in line with the bookmakers is Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, who is at either 14/1 or 16/1.
The analysis among these three:
�(Sanders) is by far the most credible candidate and the probable frontrunner, with a mile-long record of consistent principles,� wrote political reporter Ryan Cooper in The Week. �Elizabeth Warren doesn’t have quite as good a record, but she is better on details, a bit younger, and a woman.�
President Oprah or “The Rock”?
Paddy Power likes the idea of television personality Oprah Winfrey as the next leader of the free world, and has a section on its website devoted to the possibility.
She is currently 20/1 to win on the site, and 12/1 to win the democratic nomination. The site is also speculating on who her running mate would be. Biden is the favorite at 16/1, with Hillary Clinton at 20/1.
There is also a section of prop bets relating to Winfrey should she win. One is that, �Oprah to make it mandatory that every US citizen is a member of a book club.� The odds on that is 500/1.
Another television and big screen personality that is being touted as a possible contender is Dwayne �The Rock� Johnson. The former wrestler turned actor has seen his odds go from 100/1 to 50/1, to now 20/1.
A political commentator started an online campaign for Johnson, who has coyly not taken himself out of the running. He told GQ Magazine that there are certain qualities a president should have.
�Personally, I feel that if I were president, poise would be important,” Johnson said. “Leadership would be important.”
