We’ve already lost Thompson, Hunter and Tancredo, the most conservative of the Republican field. While Ronmey didn’t get trounced in FL by McCain, he certainly would have, had Guiliani not been splitting the moderate or RINO vote. Guiliani is pulling out and whether he endorses McCain or not, most of his voters will gravitate toward McCain.
Also of note is that FL was a closed primary and would have produced a much larger McCain win had it not been, but will be the case in many states on super Tuesday when a lot of independents and other crossovers jump into the party.
Suffice it to say, I’ll be surprised if McCain doesn’t get the nomination…… barring something unpredictable as sometimes happens in elections.
Actually i think the huck pulled off a lot more of the potential from Mitt.
I don’t think Rudy voters naturally go to McCain. Some certainly will due to security issues. I voted for Mitt today, but my significant other voted for Rudy. She would have been a Mitt supporter w/o Rudy in the Race.
That issue aside, McCain has huge momentum going into next week where he had an edge going in. We can only hope for a hell of a debate by Romney, or a huge McCain slip up.
It's really down to two options, McCain or Romney. I'm reminded of Kissinger's comment at the time of the Iran-Iraq War: Too bad they can't both lose.
In Florida the proabort voters were already going for McCain.
Exit polls showed that Romney was preferred 2nd choice of Rudy voters.
Romney got a big boost when Thompson left.
He may get a big boost when Rudy leaves, as big as McCains boost.
OTOH, Huckabee is splitting conservative votes and thereby helping McCain.