By Ken Feltman
Rick Santorum “wins” the dead heat with Mitt Romney, no matter what the final totals are. Retail politics prevails. But will Santorum have the resources and organization to compete in New Hampshire and South Carolina? Probably not. Ron Paul will have problems repeating his Iowa performance. So Romney remains the favorite, despite a performance that does not justify a big celebration.
Newt Gingrich is the wild card – perhaps with the emphasis on “wild.” He seems so bitter that he may determine to take Romney down, regardless of the consequences to himself and the Republican Party. If he acts on his anger, Gingrich will reveal much more about his vindictive side than we want to know. It is time for Gingrich to fade away quietly. Can he? Or will he destroy any remaining good will?
Spot on analysis. If Romney inevitable candidate, does that leave door open to a 3rd party to satisfy the other 66% of the Republican party? Trump and Paul could act. Obama sitting pretty.