They are meaningless, they don't mean a damn thing as it relates to electoral outcomes a year and a half from now.
I just want to remind everyone that the two year election cycle is a recent thing and a lot of people who declare early fizzle out, they run out of money and they run out of stamina.
Barack Obama has declared, but all he has to do is keep on being President. He has staffers who are paid to keep up with his campaign in Chicago, but that's a job, they are just going there day to day.
Candidates like Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich are jokes, they won't do anything of note when it comes to the General Election.