Faced with the prospect of Gingrich taking a second successive primary and emerging as a legitimate frontrunner for the nomination, the Party elders and their media allies staged a rebellion that appears to have succeeded.
Donald Trump has emerged as an unlikely frontrunner for the Republicans But a poor debate performance in the Saturday before the vote put the rise of Mr Rubio – a Florida senator, in doubt.
Aravind Adiga's Booker prize-winning novel The White Tiger has emerged as an early frontrunner for the Impac Dublin literary award, but the Indian writer will have to see off the likes of Nobel laureates José Saramago and Toni Morrison if he is to take the world's richest – and most eclectic – literary prize.
Cate Blanchett has emerged as an early frontrunner for this year's best actress Oscar, following rave reviews for her performance in Blue Jasmine.
Wilkins, 57, emerged as the frontrunner for the role after attending a team training session last week with Prince Ali, the son of Jordan's late King Hussein and Queen Alia.
This year, by contrast, it's as if the Academy has taken its cue from Charlize Theron in Monster, who has emerged as the frontrunner for best actress for playing the sort of role - a serial killer - that usually belongs to men.
While no candidate has officially announced their run for the White House, former New York senator and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has emerged as the frontrunner for the Democrats, while favourite son and former governor of Florida Jeb Bush is generating the most support among Republicans.
Over the weekend, Rex Tillerson, chief executive of oil behemoth Exxon Mobil, emerged as the frontrunner for Secretary of State. .
By virtue of his own consistently sterling performances and poorly-timed lackluster outings by others in the Heisman race, Winston emerged as the frontrunner for the award as the college football season progressed.
In the first episode of this series, Ruby was a frontrunner for an early exit.
But whether that befits the campaign of a true frontrunner for the presidency is another question.
