US Looking at '60 Percent Chance’ Hillary Clinton Wins White House

After almost a year-long build-up, with many twists and turns, the actual process of picking delegates has arrived, beginning with the Iowa caucus. Arterton explained to Radio Sputnik that the support a candidate receives during the period of polling, debate and fundraising, doesn't necessarily translate into actual votes.

Artenton suggests that this is the current issue with the Republican candidates, suggesting that there is no guarantee that Donald Trump's consistent celebrity polling status will be rewarded with actual votes.

"After many years of economic stagnation which started in 2008…there is an enormous degree of anxiety among the middle and the lower middle classes in the country." Artenton said. "And whenever that occurs, someone comes along with fantastic rhetoric and easy promises like 'make America great again.'"

Voters may find a certain amount of attractiveness in that view, the professor said, adding that people may be enthusiastic about Trump's candidacy merely because he says things no other candidate would. But, Artenton suggested, the kind of people who are inspired by Trump's level of rhetoric rarely show up to vote.

On the Democratic side, it is said to be a horse race between Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, Artenton offered, pointing out that it's getting late for any other Democratic hopefuls to enter the race. He noted, however, that the former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who has dropped hints of entering the race as a third party independent, has a chance to win, given his background. If a hardcore conservative Republican goes against a very far liberal Democrat, there's room in the center, the DC professor said.

A week before the Iowa caucus, a New Hampshire poll has shown that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is defeating all top Republican contenders by a much larger margin than Hillary Clinton.

"[The 2016 President nomination process] starts with Iowa and New Hampshire, two very small states, whose…delegates are insignificant, but their impact is large in terms of the public thinking and the journalist thinking about who is likely to be the nominee," Artenton asserted.

He claimed, however, that despite Sanders' significant momentum, Hillary Clinton still has the highest chance of being elected president.

"She may undergo some rough early start in the first two primary events, the caucus in Iowa and the Hampshire primary. But I think…Clinton has the organizational strength to win the Democratic nomination. And I think so far against any of the two major Republican candidates she's likely to emerge as the victor."

Earlier this week US President Barack Obama shared his view on both candidates, despite an earlier promise to not interfere. Many analysts believe that the president favors Clinton, following his remarks that she is battle-tested and more experienced.

"I think we are still looking at about a 60% chance that Hillary Clinton will be elected," Artenton stated.