And that is JUST the way it is going to be.
The final top ones slugging it out will by Giuliani, McCain, Fred Thompson, Romney.
One of those four will then go on to do the one-on-one with Hitlery or O(b/s)ama.
There will be a third party bedrock conservative alternative, but not on enough state ballots nationwide to signify and ability to get enough electoral votes, therefore irrelevant. These will be our final choices.
I agree with your long term assessment. The only difference is that I think McCain will wear down and drop out and leave it a 3 man race with FredThompson, Mitt Romney, and then Giuliani, who I think will trail the other two with conservatives not voting for him.