However, nomination (not done until August of next year) will be judged on primary elections prior to, polling done mid next year... and, quite a bit on how much money front runners have, and to a smaller degree, how closely they tow the party line.
The old saying, 'Money is the mother's milk of politics' shouldn't be among the top criterion for voting for the nominee at the convention, but unfortunately it all too frequently is.
That said, Romney has quite a war-chest full of cash, and unless Perry can gain a bit better traction than he has at the moment, it will be hard for him to compete in coming months - and ~might~ cost him the nomination.
As I've posted elsewhere on FR pages, the rest of the candidates, other than Perry and Romney, aren't going anywhere - at this time. But - the public can change everything, simply through donations and getting out and working hard for a candidate that is behind the leaders.
It's far too early to tell how this will pan out - but you can bet on one thing for certain. The media hate GOP candidates - and will do anything in their power to derail the more conservative of them. Rick Perry is obviously their prime target, and has been since before he declared his candidacy.
This makes no sense. The nomination will go to the candidate who has the most delegates. Delegates will be won according to who receives how many votes in the primaries. It all boils down to votes.