"She is the leading candidate for 2008, and you can't give her a clear run," he said.

He would be a leading candidate to get the next big head coaching job.

Both candidates were made aware that we had a leading candidate.

"He's the leading candidate, but there are other people on the list," a senior Administration official said.

Now, with the presidential election less than six months away, he has emerged as the leading candidate.

Just a year ago, he was considered a leading candidate to become chief of department, the top uniformed job.

Is it possible to imagine him as a leading candidate for the nomination?

However, Michael isn't considered a leading candidate for the job.

The leading candidate is a man who had the job two years ago and quit after 17 days.

"I don't know if there is a leading candidate right now," he said.