"obvious frontrunner" means a person or thing that is highly likely to win or succeed, as they are clearly in the lead and have a significant advantage over others. Full definition
While that latter film was already considered a dead - cert for awards - season glory, even before it premiered at the festival, this year's event boasts no such obvious frontrunner. (theguardian.com)
Looking at the Labour intake, the report says Keir Starmer is «the obvious frontrunner» but it is also well worth watching the careers of Rowenna Davis, Jessica Asato, Ruth Smeeth, Helen Hayes, Stephen Kinnock and Rebecca Long Bailey. (totalpolitics.com)
The CNN / ORC International poll released Sunday also indicates the race for the GOP nomination remains a wide open contest with no obvious frontrunner among the potential Republican White House hopefuls. (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)