Mitt Romney is “suspending his campaign” (quitting the race) for the GOP nomination. I’m sure he (and pundits) will be scratching their heads for a loooooong time wondering how McCain managed to go from near-bankrupt to the nearly uncontested nominee.
Of course, it’s not officially over yet. Huckabee is far behind McCain — but is it possible that the some of the “anyone but Romney” folks will shift over to Huckabee? Or put another way, given how both Romney and McCain have dubious conservative credentials (at least on a few hot button items; McCain’s record is actually quite conservative), will Huckabee pick up any more support in the coming primaries? Not enough, I suspect, to have an effect — I hope.
On the positive side, this may mean fewer GOP folks going to primaries, which might affect the votes on some issues in some states which are doubling up ballot propositions and other races with the primaries.
Meanwhile, with Clinton and Obama neck and neck, and with a lot of proportional voting states coming up, it’s altogether possible that the tide will be turned by the “super-delegates” — DNC and state officials who make up 20% of the total convention delegates for the Dems. They might make the final decision before the convention actually happens. Which, honestly, would be a bad move for the Dems — a floor fight at the convention would be one thing, but something smacking of backroom deals and kingmaking will only hurt the Democratic party.
(via BD)
I was particularly incensed by Romney’s one comment, he did not want to be ‘aiding a surrender to terror’…It seems pretty clear the republicans are going to use heavy fear tactics in the upcoming elections…
Given that McCain’s greatest perceived strength is a soldier/leader in war, I have very little doubt that will be a huge theme in the campaign, esp. if Obama is nominated on the Dems side.