POWER RANKINGS: Here's who has the best chance at being our next president

With less than 500 days until the 2016 election, it's time to take a look at who has the best chance of making it to the White House after President Barack Obama.

There have been surprises (Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump) and the expected (Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush). 

But with less than three weeks to go before the first officially sanctioned Republican primary debate, it's a complete free-for-all to determine the eventual GOP nominee.

Our rankings are based on the Real Clear Politics averages of national polls and those in New Hampshire and Iowa. We also factor in candidates' fundraising numbers released this week and their momentum (or lack thereof) over the past few weeks.

Here's a look at where all the candidates stand as the campaign begins to officially ramp up.

18. Bobby Jindal, Republican, Louisiana governor

Jindal was not too long ago one of the GOP's rising stars. But his stock both nationally and in his home state of Louisiana has plummeted over the past few years, and his state has fallen into financial disarray.

The result is what's showing up in polls: He's among the bottom three nationally, in New Hampshire, and in Iowa. 

Jindal and allied groups did raise $9 million last quarter, but he's in no shape to make the first debate stage.

National polling average among Republican voters: 1.4% (T-13th)
Iowa: 2% (13th)
New Hampshire: 0.1% (15th)

STOCK: Neutral

17. Lindsey Graham, Republican, senator from South Carolina

Graham is one of the more interesting candidates in the GOP field, something that might also work against him with the base.

He has an accomplished record on foreign policy — but is he too hawkish, even as Republican voters want the US to become more involved in world affairs?

And he is more pro-immigration reform than any other member of the field, keenly recognizing the GOP's problem with Latino voters and calling out Trump's comments on immigration. But more voters, as polls have shown, have rallied around Trump in the wake of those comments.

Graham is still barely registering in polls nationally and in the first two voting states. He has to hope that his home state of South Carolina will rally around him for a shocker. 

National polling average among Republican voters: 0.6% (15th)
Iowa: 0.1 (15th)
New Hampshire: 0.5% (T-13th)

STOCK: Neutral

16. Martin O'Malley, Democrat, former Maryland governor

O'Malley has watched as Bernie Sanders has rapidly become the progressive alternative to Hillary Clinton that many observers thought he had a chance of becoming. 

He's still not well known nationally, and he hasn't been able to get his poll numbers up since entering the race at the end of May. 

But he has an extremely accomplished record as governor with achievements — on immigration, criminal justice, gay marriage, and healthcare, among others — that he can legitimately flout to progressive voters. O'Malley has to hope now, though, that Sanders implodes and more progressive types in the base rally around him.

National polling average among Democratic voters: 1.3% (4th)
Iowa: 2.6% (3rd)
New Hampshire: 2.3% (3rd)

STOCK: Neutral

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