American politics never loses its capacity to shock.
Donald Trump was elected President after being written off as a big-mouth reality TV star standing only to boost his media profile.
Four years on, another US poll surprise may be looming.
Bookies’ favourite among Democrats to face Trump in November’s presidential election is 78-year-old “socialist” Bernie Sanders, at 6/5.
He cemented his position as front-runner for his party’s nomination after winning the New Hampshire primary.
If Sanders can go all the way he would be the oldest and most left-wing candidate ever elected as President.
Married rival Pete Buttigieg (pronounced Boot Edge Edge) is attempting, at 38, to become the youngest and also the first openly gay US leader.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ex-New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has sat out the race so far but polls suggest he may be best placed to beat Trump, who is all but guaranteed the Republican nomination.
The media tycoon has already spent £270million of his vast wealth on an advertising blitz.
Eight remaining candidates are fighting to secure the Democrats’ nomination. Here the Mirror rates their chances out of 10.
Bernie Sanders
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Senator for Vermont boasts a strong base of young supporters enthused by his agenda of free university education, expanding Medicare for all and an energy system based entirely on renewables.
A heart attack in October hasn’t dented the popularity of America’s Jeremy Corbyn.
Age: 78
Best line: “Yes, we become stronger when men and women, young and old, gay and straight, native-born and immigrant fight together to create the kind of country we all know we can become.”
Experience: 60/100
Wealth: £1.5 million
Chance of winning: 8/10
Pete Buttigieg
(Image: Getty Images)
Known as “Mayor Pete”, the telegenic former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has degrees from Harvard and Oxford universities and did military service in Afghanistan.
Age: 38
Best line: “Greatness will come by looking forward – untethered from the politics of the past and anchored by our shared values – and by changing our nation’s future.”
Experience: 50/100
Wealth: £77,000
Chance of winning: 6/10
Michael Bloomberg
(Image: Getty Images)
The former Mayor of New York and multi-billionaire media tycoon has the money but is yet to develop a policy agenda beyond claiming he is a moderate with the ability to beat Donald Trump.
Age: 77
Best line: “Who’s the other one?” When asked about a presidential race between two billionaires.
Experience: 70/100
Wealth: £45 billion
Chance of winning: 7/10
Amy Klobuchar
(Image: Getty Images)
The Minnesota senator is competing with Biden and Buttigieg for the moderate Democrat vote. A former corporate lawyer, she has refused to tack to the left by backing Medicare for all or radical green policies.
Age: 59
Best line: “In my job, you can’t just put your head in the sand and throw partisan bombshells. You have to get results.”
Experience: 40/100
Wealth: £1.5 million ($2 million)
Chance of winning: 5/10
Joe Biden
(Image: Getty Images)
The former VP entered the race as favourite but struggled in the two primaries. Dubbed “Sleepy Joe” by Trump, he’s pitching himself as the unity candidate.
Age: 77
Best line: “Our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solutions lie in the attitudes and the actions of the American people.”
Experience: 80/100
Wealth: £6.9 million
Chance of winning: 4/10
Elizabeth Warren
(Image: Getty Images)
The Massachusetts senator and former Harvard academic is vying with Sanders for the support of the left but struggling to keep up with the frontrunners and shake off her image as a left-wing Hillary Clinton.
Age: 70
Best line: “People feel like the system is rigged against them. And here’s the painful part: they’re right. The system is rigged.”
Experience: 45/100
Wealth: £9.25 million
Chance of winning: 3/10
Tulsi Gabbard
(Image: Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Hawaii-based Gabbard was the first Hindu to be elected to Congress. A former Gulf War veteran on the left of the party her campaign faltered after it emerged she had met Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Age: 38
Best line: “In the military, I learned that ‘leadership’ means raising your hand and volunteering for the tough, important assignments.”
Experience: 30/100
Wealth: £383,545
Chance of winning: 1/10
Tom Steyer
(Image: Getty Images)
A California-based hedge fund billionaire and environmental campaigner. Steyer has proved more successful at making money than forging a career in politics.
Age: 62
Best line: “The American people know that climate change is the kind of problem only America can solve.”
Experience: 10/100
Wealth: £1.2 billion
Chance of winning: 1/10
