Here's one way to make the political race for the next U.S. president more bearable: Bet on it!

Betusa.com, the Internet's zaniest Web site for making pop culture side bets on everything from global warming to Britney Spears losing her kids (that bet was a winner, by the way) has placed its odds on the presidential race.

The odds reflect the current trends uncovered through the first three primaries/caucuses. Let's take a look at the odds for candidates. For example, a 7-5 listing would mean that one would have to bet $500 to win $700, and if the odds were 3-1, a $100 bet would return $300 to the winner.

Hillary Clinton (7-5): Clinton is coming off a win in New Hampshire that was desperately needed. She's the prohibitive favorite to win the race despite a loss in Iowa. Her strength is that with her, many Americans think they can get eight more years of Bill and a seasoned Democrat in the big chair. Clinton is a strong favorite, but her listed odds provide little return in an election that's still very much up in the air.

John McCain (7-2): On the Republican side, McCain has the lead, and the 7-2 odds aren't that bad when you look at the big picture. Yes, the image of another Republican president sits poorly, but if McCain can secure the ticket for his party, he at least has a puncher's shot at defeating his Democratic opponent. Suppose McCain does this, and no candidate is a 7-2 underdog in a heads-up election. Good odds on this bet.

Barack Obama (2-1): Currently in a dead heat with Clinton for the Democratic ticket, Obama is a safe bet that promises a slightly better return on the money than Clinton. The Obama campaign is appetizing for young voters.

Mitt Romney (15-1): Lots of bang for the buck with Romney, who still is very much a factor in the Republican race despite his failure to pick up a victory in Iowa or New Hampshire. But hey, he did win Wyoming.

Fred Thompson (50-1): These are very sexy odds for the long-shot Thompson, but this is a losing bet. The American people like him, but they just don't want him to be the president.

Al Gore (5-1): Gore demands respect, and such strong odds for him to win should he choose to enter the election process late backs that point up. The green movement is taking the country by storm, and environmental issues are now considered a very serious political movement. Who better to serve as the president than the face of the movement?

Other hopefuls include Rudy Giuliani (8-1), Mike Huckabee (10-1), John Edwards (30-1), Ron Paul (30-1)  and Dennis Kucinich (250-1).
 
Chuck Blount | 210SA Contributor