[basil]

I have this fantasy that someone new will come sweeping down the plain and we’ll have a wonderful candidate that we can all get happily behind.

Of course it ain’t a-gonna happen—but to tell the truth, I don’t like any of the Republican candidates..............

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Unfortunately the powers that be have established ballot rules that prevent new people from jumping at the last minute.

[Liberty1970]

I suspected Gingrich was peaking too soon for the Iowa caucus and would wither a bit before the voting. Nate Silver came out with his polling model predictions yesterday and they were very close to the #'s I posted a few days ago (mine based on polling data thru 12/7).

Both Silver and my #'s indicate Gingrich squeaking out a narrow win over Ron Paul, with Romney in third a good bit further back. The only difference was that he had Perry beating Bachmann for fourth, but I agree with that based on the poll data that came out after I did my numbers. (Disclaimer: I'm just an amateur at this, though I've compared my predictions to the outcomes in past races and am only very slightly worse than the pros in my predictions.)

I just can't see Romney building momentum at this point. If Gingrich really does fall off (and I would be surprised if he holds it together), then either Bachmann and Perry have a second wind, or Ron Paul wins it. A Bachmann or Paul win would be a huge victory for the conservative base against the more liberal/big-government RINOs.

[BunnySlippers]

I am disappointed in the GOP offerings this year. Especailly given that we desperately need to defeat Obama.

That is why I’m giving Perry a second chance.

[wmfights]

...but to tell the truth, I don’t like any of the Republican candidates..............

I like Perry the best, but other than Romney or Paul I don't have a problem supporting any of them in the general election. They would all be such an improvement over the disaster we have in the WH now.