This becomes Cain’s to lose. Once the primaries start and second-tier conservatives begin to drop out, those votes go to Cain, not Romney.
Bingo. Romney’s support tops out at 30-35%.
Like Thompson dropped out before the SC 2008 primary? By staying in even though he didn’t have a prayer, he gave the victory to McCain launching him into Florida and Super Tuesday? I suspect the establishment will keep enough second and third tier folks in to divide the conservative vote.