Two things happened yesterday:
First, President Obama gave a press conference during which he was absolutely pitiful: evasive, arrogant, dismissive, duplicitous. In other words, just another day as president.
And second, the Republicans got a little---but not much---clarity on the presidential primary race. Mitt Romney won six of the ten states holding contests, including Ohio. In some of those states, his victory was slim and he had to burn through a lot of dough to get it. But a win is a win is a win, and it's way better than a loss. Rick Santorum had a good night, winning three races: Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota. Those victories will keep him in the race, and position him well for the upcoming contests in Alabama and Mississippi. Newt Gingrich had a nice night, picking up a win in his home state of Georgia. That was a must-win for him, and he got it, which will propel his campaign, for a little while anyway. Ron Paul performed well in most states, with his rabid base of support coming out and giving him about 40% of the vote in Virginia, where just he and Romney were on the ballot. He's going to hang in there no matter what in order to have an impact on the party platform at the convention.
So, where are we after last night? Romney has expanded his delegate lead and is still the most likely GOP nominee. But the bloody war of attrition continues. Some folks argue that it's damaging the candidates. While that's true to some extent, I also think it's a positive exercise for them. What they're facing from each other is nothing compared to what Obama, Axelrod, Plouffe and Jarrett have cooking for the fall. They'd better work out all the kinks, get their weaknesses on the table, hone their debating and campaign skills, and get used to the art of battle NOW. Because if they can't take incoming from their own side, there's no way they're going to be able to turn back the weapons of Team Obama.
We will get a nominee. I do hope it's sooner rather than later. But the process---as brutal as it is---is making the eventual nominee a much better candidate---even if he (and we) don't quite see it yet.
"Santorum? A raw rookie. (Watch him settle for Romney's VP, if it came to that.) " - Gringoman
As IF. Romney's running mate has been Chris Christie. FROM DAY ONE when Christie endorsed him.
Only an idiot could think anything otherwise.
You think for a single second that Romney, saddled with an 1800 science fiction religion, wants to add to it a religious nutcase crusader who thinks he's in the Middle Ages?
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright.
Posted by: xbjllb | March 08, 2012 at 12:48 AM