In case this reporter didn’t notice, it’s still almost 14 months to the election. So, how on earth is this “third debate” between two establishment Republicans supposed to be “decisive”? Nothing will happen for the next year?
Because it’s 5 months until the Iowa Caucus.
“Nothing will happen for the next year?”
This is about the GOP primaries, selecting delegates to the party convention, and coming up with a nominee. That will all take place starting in late January. Within 6 weeks of the IA caucus a single frontrunner will likely be decided, and then it’s all geared to the general election.
There was a thread on here about #x NH state legislators endorsing Perry. The presumption has been that Romney had NH wrapped up as, if not a favorite son, as the boy next door. Governors and state legislators, who have the ground troops, are starting to decide now. That affords the endorsees a lot of in-state support as s/he faces the primaries. So, a LOT will be going on in the next several months. A year from how, as to the in-party fight, it is all over. I’d wager that that aspect will be over by March.
All of the controllers want this wrapped up soon, before any actual voters get involved.