“As difficult as it is for some to admit, the establishment doesn’t select the party nominee. The voters do that.”
No, they don’t. I would have voted for Romney last time, but he wasn’t on the ticket by the time it got to Mississippi. A few states make the choice. The system is flawed. Big time.
Romney didn't drop out of the race until McCain had 573 electors, just about 200 short of what he needed to clinch the nomination. I think Romney had less than 150, perhaps even less than a 100. Romney dropped out because he was - for all practical consideration - eliminated from contention.
I'm assuming the MS primary came after Super Tuesday and Romney's exit from the race. If it did, and you still would have had the opportunity to vote for him, it wouldn't have changed the mathematical inevitability of McCain's win.
Voters DO select the nominees, primarily because of changes that have been made to the nominating process the last 45 years. I can't remember the last time we had a nominee who didn't win the most delegates.