“On January 3, 2008, the Iowa caucuses began. The final averaged results from Real Clear Politics showed Mike Huckabee at 30%, Romney at 27%, McCain and Thompson tied at 12%, Paul at 7%, and Giuliani at 6%.[7] Among those surveyed in Exit Polling data, 45% cited themselves as very conservative and voted for Huckabee 35% to Romney’s 23% and Thompson’s 22%. Among those who called themselves “somewhat conservative” (43%), Huckabee won 34% to Romney’s 27% and McCain’s 18%.[8]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)_presidential_primaries,_2008#2007
Romney and Huckabee were battling it out for the top spot as late as January 2008 last time around, while McCain TIED for third.
My point is, anyone who’s saying “Perry’s over, Romney is the nominee” at this point must be enjoying sweet memories of when Huckabee was our nominee last time.
IN fairness, McCain skipped the Iowa caucuses to concentrate on Michigan, South Carolina and Florida. At the time, there was no sense that third place represented a failure. The most that can be said was Huckabee went from Cain-like dark horse, to one of the major contenders.