Despite Donald Trump’s front-runner status in polls, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is still the heavy favorite among bettors to win the Republican presidential nomination, according to the online betting website Bovada.
Mr. Trump is only the fourth-favorite, with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida trailing Mr. Bush.
Mr. Bush is given 5/4 odds at Bovada, compared to 7/2 for Mr. Walker and 5/1 for Mr. Rubio. Mr. Trump comes in at surprisingly long odds for a poll favorite, at 7/1, reflecting a consensus that the current surveys are just a temporary event.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky comes in at 15/1, while both neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are at 20/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is at 25/1, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is at 30/1.
Bovada also is taking bets on Mr. Trump’s debate performance Thursday, offering 2/1 odds to bettors who think he will say “fired” (which means the oddmakers think he won’t channel his days as the celebrity host of the “The Apprentice”). Bovada is offering slightly longer odds — 5/2 — that he will say “moron” or “idiot.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.