[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I would make a bet that the GOP establishment will back Romney.

It's almost certain. Those who insist he won't be the nominee, need to recall how many of us insisted John McCain wouldn't be the 2008 choice.

Especially bad scenario, if 0bama decides to run for re-election and the GOP primaries remain open where they were in 2008. Because if 0bama has no viable challengers, the Dem voters will cross over and vote in our primaries, and they'll vote for "Anybody But Palin."

Closing the primaries is absolutely essential. And even then, Romney's a much more obvious threat than McCain was.

[Loyalist]

You never step into the same election twice, though.

It’s not at all clear that Romney will be the only establishment candidate running. A series of lesser lights, such as Barbour, Pawlenty, Daniels and Thune may be competing for Romney’s establishment bloc and they will win a good share of it away.

If conservatives coalesce behind Palin while the RINOs splinter, it will not be a cakewalk for Romney.