Every week MSNBC.com publishes a ranking, created by Nationaljournal.com, of the current presidential candidates. one week they rank the republicans, the next they rank the Democrats.

3 weeks ago the last set of raitings from MSNBC.com were published, with the demmocrats being rated. Now after a hiatus the republican candidates have beeing rated

""Last night in Manchester, New Hampshire, the 10 Republican candidates prepared to take the stage for their party's third 2008 presidential debate ... of 2007. ... This debate wasn't about policy discrepancies. It's about America and the imminent death of its people if one of these people isn't elected [on screen: John McCain calling the war 'a transcendent struggle between good and evil']. A transcendent struggle between good and evil? They're going to pull out all the stops. There is nothing that they would not do to win and fight this war [on screen: GOPers unanimously opposing openly gay soldiers]. ... Apparently, the only thing worse for these candidates than another terrorist attack would be a gay hero stopping it. ... I don't want to say anything, but there are 10 candidates on that stage and the law of averages says one of these guys is a little Barney in the Franks." --Jon Stewart

"Last night in New Hampshire, all 10 Republican presidential candidates took part in the debate. Experts say it was like many of history's classic debates, except with eight extra people." --Conan O'Brien

Number 1 on the list is the pretty much the only candidate, most people in this country will have heard of; Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani has managed to stay at the tops of the polls since announcing his candidacy, and has managed to balance the fine line of getting support form both sides of the political spectrum. however his stance on Abortion may prove to be a problem with the conservative base of the republican party. Giulani may also face a tough time over his stance on same sex civil unions, although he has said he doesnt support same sex marriages.

"Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is paying his wife $125,000 a year to help him write his speeches. She's writing his speeches for him ... and you can tell. Like last week, he gave a speech about what awful bitches the first two wives were." --Jay Leno

2nd place on the list is currently held by Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. romney served as governor from 2003 to 2007, in a state that traditionally is very democratic, before announcing his bid for the presidency. during his term he signed in to law schemes to extent health care insurance all citizens, which won him support from both Democrats and Republicans.

like Giuliani, he may face opposition form the conservative base of the republican party, particulally on his stance over homosexuality. in 1994 he said to a republican gay rights group (yes they do exist) "We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern". However later in his career he became an opponent of gay marriage. many have speculated that his comments form 1994, could mean a change of policy towards gays in the armed forces.

Now on to 3rd place - Arizona Sen. John McCain. the senator who ran for the party's nomination in 2000, but lost to then Governor Bush. one problem he is facing at the moment is not within the republican party but within independant voters. in 2000 the independant votes went to McCain, this time theya are gonig to Obama which leads me to;

the announcemtn that was made by one of the Senators Advisors announced that if Sen. Obama (Democrat Illinois) wins the democrats presidential nominnee he will stand down form Sen. McCains campaign as "while he opposed Obama's policies, especially on Iraq, he felt that the Illinois senator - as an African-American politician - has a unique potential to change the country."

4th place is Fred Thompson. Thompson a former Senator from Tennessee, who is prbably more famous, at least in this country, for being on Law and Order as 'D.A. Arthur Branch' between 2002 & 2007. now strictly speaking Thompson hasnt announced he is running, which is why he hasnt been involved in any of the debates so far, only that he is forming an exploratoy committee, which is the first step a candidate takes before offically announcing their candidacy.

However speculation has been running for mounths that the former senator would run, which is why he has done well in polls for most of the year, as well as having a strong showing on the MSNBC ratings. the speculation has also meant he has become a fequent target of America's late night comedians'

"Do you realize if Fred Thompson runs against Hillary Clinton, it'll be 'Law & Order' versus 'Cold Case'?" --Jay Leno

"They say it's just a matter of time before former senator and 'Law & Order' actor Fred Thompson gets into the Republican race. Apparently, 10 rich white guys doesn't offer enough choices to the voters. They need 11 rich white guys." --Jay Leno

During his time in the senate Thompson voted against convicting President Bush
of perfury, but did vote 'guilty' on the 'Obstruction of Justice article'. He also voted in favour of campaign reform legislation.

And to finsih a couple of random Jokes;
"By a vote of 93-5, the Louisiana state House has voted to make it illegal for teachers to have sex with their students. Here's my question: Who are the five people who voted for it?" --Jay Leno

"Paris Hilton is behind bars, but still no word on Osama." --David Letterman