Tote Board Column -- 5/24 -- The Long-Winded, Winding Road

    This week's Tote Board column looks back at the last few months and, amidst all the trivia being reported about Campaign 2008, attempts to pick out the three or four unexpected or significant trends that have emerged so far that are likely to remain important. Briefly they are:

1. The continuing unpopularity of the Iraq War and President Bush;
2. The rise of Mitt Romney;
3. The rise and gaffe of John Edwards;
4. The "waiting in the wings" candidacies of Fred Thompson and Newt Gingrich.