Honestly, if a bunch of far right extremists cannot even get nominated by a party whose base they increasingly dominate, what chance does any of them have in an election where the rest of the country gets to vote? I thought about it going over the primary calendar: With the exception of TX, Romney is favored mostly in the largets most moderate states. In other words, outside UT and adjacent states, his chances are best in states where any other Republicans chances are nil.

Can you imagine Santorum, Gingrich or Paul NV or NJ? I know VT and NH like to be different, but even Paul has no hope there (though he would still do better than Santorum or Gingrich.) Not that they are really in play, but Obama could carry CA and NY by 25 points against Santorum—for the same reason Romney can win their primaries without spending a dime. Santorum lost to Casey by 17 points in 2006, and Obama carried PA by 11 in 2008; how is Santorum vs. Obama gonna go? Probably better than Gingrich vs. Obama would; if we find out tomorrow Romney considers live puppies a delicacy, the GOPs best hope is to nominate Santorum and hope the native son can carry PA and OH hates Obama enough to swallow their bile and vote for him.

It was over before it began, even without Romneys money (though that surely helped.) He will dominate every really large state but TX. Paul cannot even win THERE, yet it will be his Crowning Moment of Not-Romney Kryptonite, ensuring Gingrich and Santorum LOSE, and Romney wins a plurality, earning all (or most) delegates.

It is still Romney (R-MA) vs. Romney (D-IL.) Republicans are about to learn their idealistic outsider (Paul) is as fake as the Democrats was.