IT WILL soon be “thank you and good night” to the vanity candidates and also-rans who have enlivened the 2008 presidential race. Those who fail to make a mark in Iowa and New Hampshire will be deprived of the oxygen of publicity as the election moves into top gear.

From the point of view of the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States, Dennis Kucinich, the vegan, UFO-spotting, left-wing Democratic congressman, will be much missed. His statuesque young British wife, Elizabeth, was known as the “jolly green giant” during her schooldays in Essex. If Kucinich had found a winning formula, she could have been the first first lady in history to sport a tongue stud in the White House. Alas, he is trailing in the polls.

Senator Joe Biden blew his 1987 shot at the presidency when he was caught out plagiarising a speech by Neil Kinnock, then Labour party leader, asking why he was the first in his family to go to university. Twenty years on, he put his foot in it again when he declared that Barack Obama, his Democratic rival, was “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate, bright and clean”.

Chris Dodd, another veteran Democratic senator, dated Bianca Jagger in his wilder days, but the only buzz he generated this year was when a fly landed on his white helmet of hair during a televised debate and could not escape. It was trapped by his hairspray.

Among others likely to fall by the way is Mike Gravel, a 77-year-old left-wing former senator for Alaska who seems permanently enraged. Jon Stewart, the comedian, observed after one debate: “I’m told Mike Gravel ripped his own arms off and it still wasn’t very interesting.”

Bill Richardson, the Hispanic governor of New Mexico and a former United Nations ambassador, began the year as a much-fancied dark horse who was also touted as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton. But revelations that the “hands-on” governor was a little too touchy-feely with female colleagues may have scuppered his chances.

Almost all the Republican also-rans have already left the field but Alan Keyes, a quixotic former ambassador who nobody knew was running, suddenly emerged at the final televised Republican debate in Iowa this month. Given that he spent his airtime complaining about the lack of respect shown to him, nobody will make the mistake of inviting him again.

That said, the success of Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas – previously best known for shedding more than seven stone in weight – proves it is not impossible for a rank outsider to leap over better-known candidates in the polls.

All the contenders are marvelling at the power of Ron Paul, whose cultish “Ronulan” devotees raised $6m (£3m) in just 24 hours when he launched an internet appeal for funds. A Republican congressman on a libertarian ticket, he supports withdrawal from the UN and Nato and an end to gun-control laws.

Although a long shot, Paul is attracting the support of tax refuseniks, advocates of the legalisation of drugs and antiwar activists from the left and right. He says he has raised so much money that he does not know what to do with it, but the solution is obvious – to stay in the race as a third-party, independent candidate.

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