And if this was the year it hoped to demonstrate continued dominance over the other vocal contest shows that have arrived in the wake of its juggernaut success, then consider that strike three.
The surveys in both contests showed that the voters were much more concerned about health care and the economy than about terrorism and Iraq.
By September 2007, polling in the first six states holding Democratic contests showed that Clinton was leading in all of them, with the races being closest in Iowa and South Carolina.
They hope the contest will show that Mr Corbyn's views are rejected by Labour.
Caucus and party members should use this contest to show that Labor has moved on from its leadership being determined on the basis of opinion polls, or the number of positive media profiles, or the amount of time spent schmoozing media owners and editors, or the frippery of selfies and content-less social media.
Caucus and party members should use this contest to show that Labor has moved on from its leadership being determined on the basis of opinion polls, or the number of positive media profiles, or the amount of time spent schmoozing media owners and editors, or the frippery of selfies and content-less social media.
Interviews with more than a dozen former aides, adversaries, and close observers of the '06 contest, however, show that important lessons -- about the need to stay on message, convey warmth to voters and appear less patronizing -- haven't been learned at all.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have been pushing the margins in this area, but the current contest shows that backpedaling still dominates the post-convention stage of presidential elections.
Thus, a threshold contest showing that the result of an election has been placed in doubt, warranting a manual count of all undervotes or "no vote registered" ballots, has been made.
But a near-25,000 crowd at the DW Stadium, a showpiece fixture for British rugby league, the chance for the Dragons to wear their red V on an international stage, and a hugely enjoyable contest, showed that even in its current flawed form, the World Club Challenge is one of the jewels of the calendar, at least from a British perspective.
