You make great points, and I hope you are right! Yet, based on Newt’s finishes last night he can’t win enough of the remaining primaries to pull out a win. He can make a splash, and so can Rick, but the ONLY possible chance Newt or Rick has to win the nomination is if one of them pull out right now. A three person race goes to Mittens.
Look at the remaining primary schedule. Even if Newt could “run” the south he is highly unlikely to pick up anything significant in the NE, the West and midwest.
Rick is in the same boat. Due to his social conservativism you can count him out in the West and NE. He does have a better chance then Newt in the Midwest, but that is unlikely in states like IL and WI.
With both Newt and Rick in the race they will split the southern vote (Like TN and GA). I’m not trying to be downer, but barring a miracle (i.e., Newt or Rick drop out now) Mittens will have the nomination by June. Seriously, if someone can give a logical alternative I’m totally ready to change my opinion, but the bottom line is...
“Rick and Newt both stay in gives Mittins a win.”
If there is a realistic pathway to something different then share it.
You are assuming that the path to the nomination is through gaining enough committed delegates through the pre-convention primary process to make having a real national convention a joke, like it has been so many times in the past. Not this time.
From what I have been hearing this morning, at this time, there is no way that Newt or Rick can win enough delegates to win the race. With both still in, neither will be able to win and overtake Romney because Romney will also be winning many more states.
Looks like conservatives screwed the pooch once again:(