An Internet tracking service for the 2008 presidential race placed South Carolina Gov. Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford Jr. at number 8 in its power rankings among Republican potential candidates.

Through its use of wire reports, campaign staffer scuttlebutt and confidential tips from readers, the "Jockey" who handles rankings at PoliticalDerby.com said it felt "ashamed" that Sanford had too long been unranked and relegated to the "others receiving votes" category.

"But with some serious love from the Weekly Standard and recent fund-raising reports revealing oodles of out-of-state cash, Sanford is in the rankings for good. So welcome, governor," the "Jockey said.

Because Sanford was a first-timer in the rankings, the Jockey shared a bit of advice: "In the future you might want to avoid calling potential 2008 donors 'idiots.' Grassroots activists have very long memories and, should you change your mind, you'll be eating that line in your opponents commercials come 2007."

Sanford — a former Congressman, attorney and U.S. Air Force veteran — has not expressed interest in running for President in 2008, and in fact, quickly shot down a "Draft Sanford" movement in April when he told South Carolina newspapers he would "absolutely not" be a candidate for President in 2008.

Ahead of Sanford on Jockey's list, in descending order with accompanying comments, are:

n U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia) (being encouraged to resign from the Senate and launch a "Listening Tour");

n Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ("broken glass conservatives" may not perceive him as "one of their own");

n Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour ("Katrina has been a political gift to the affable Mississippi governor");'

n Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (faces the same social issue questions as Romney, but 'GOPers may be more willing to forgive Giuliani given his hero-like aura');

n U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) (Jockey's inside sources say they'd bet that McCain will ignore his naysayers from the right and run with everything he's got);

n U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo ("For a House member from Colorado that speaks almost exclusively on one issue — immigration — he sure plays well — and often — in non-border states.");

n U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) ("If he's successful in shepherding through Roberts and Gonzales — just a hunch — he'll earn back some grassroots brownie points lost over the "compromise" debacle and his recent support of stem cell research.")

Sanford is also seen as "moving up" by primaries2008.typepad.com, as are Allen, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas); and Romney.

Behind Gov. Sanford on Jockey's list are U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza "Condi" Rice of California, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), who has also indicated that he is not running. Others receiving votes are Vice President Richard "Dick" Cheney of Wyoming, who also says he is not running; U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska); Colorado Gov. Bill Owens; former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson; Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia; and New York Gov. George Pataki.

Jockey's Democratic picks are, from one to ten: U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York); Hillary Clinton (two spots for being a heavy favorite), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner; U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware), Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean of Vermont, who has said he is not running. Others receiving votes are U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), former Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee (who is not running), U.S. Sen. Barak Obama (D-Illinois), U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas).

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