[BarnacleCenturion]

“I doubt there will be any clear leader until after South Carolina’s or even Florida’s primary.”

That would go against over half a century of history where the two man race has been defined by the winners in Iowa and New Hampshire.

[Sudetenland]

Maybe, but this is an unusual election year. We have a disastrous President, a very motivated Republican electorate, and 13 more debates between now and March 19th.

There are no compelling reasons for anyone to bow out--certainly not until after February; as I said, it won't require much money to stay in the game. Look at how well Santorum did in the Iowa Straw Poll with almost no money but a whole lot of foot work and retail campaigning.

Clearly, I'm no expert and you could be correct, but I just see tons of opportunity for a really competitive race until late because of all of these debates. I think this is a very good thing for the party and the voters. We will have a very good idea about the folks for whom we are voting by the end and whoever comes out on top will be a very powerful debater and candidate--as long as the candidates save their long knives for the Democrats and not each other.