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

In fewer than 45 days, the first votes of the 2016 presidential primary will be cast.

And heading into the new year, two candidates have firmly entrenched themselves as the front-runners in their respective parties.

On the Republican side, Donald J. Trump finds himself in perhaps his strongest position yet, leading all national polls and surveys of the early states of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. This from a candidate who was largely expected to wane as the summer, let alone fall, went on.

One GOP candidate has bitten the dust over the past month: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) dropped out of the race on Monday, dwindling the Republican field down to a still-robust 13.

In the Democratic primary, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has continued to cement herself as the clear Democratic front-runner.

So with less than a year until Election Day 2016, here's another look at who has the best chance of making it to the White House to succeed US President Barack Obama.

Our rankings are based on the Real Clear Politics averages of national polls and those in the first-voting states of New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. We also factor in candidates' fundraising prowess and their momentum (or lack thereof) over the past few weeks, especially after each party's debates earlier this month.

Here's a look at where all the candidates stand.

(All poll results as of Tuesday.)