The Florida Primary: Good News and Bad News

Florida Republican Primary Results:

John McCain: 36%
Mitt Romney: 31%
Rudy Giulani: 15%
Mike Huckabee: 13%
Ron Paul: 4%

~You want the good news or the bad news first? Well, since you probably already know what the bad news is, I'll go ahead and divulge it in detail now. Huckabee's performance in Florida was very disappointing. I was hoping that Huckabee could place third, above Rudy Giulani, but, alas, it turns out that Giulani's three-week full-time blitz on Florida did count for something (though, from his point of view, not nearly enough). Now, Huckabee's shot at ascertaining the Republican nomination is getting longer and longer.

~However, he is competing in a handful of Super Tuesday states, including but not limited to Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. His severe lack of momentum and money will make it difficult for him to turn that "competitiveness" into actual victories, but he still has a chance, at least.

~ What he really needs are two things: first of all, he needs to come out throwing some elbows in tonight's debate (CNN, 8 p.m.). I know that's not his style, but he can't sit back any longer. CNN doesn't convince anybody of being "fair and balanced" or "objective." They will focus on Romney and McCain, trying to let them dominate the debate. Huckabee has to jump into the action whenever he gets the chance, contrasting himself to the other candidates.

~The second thing Huckabee needs is for Romney and McCain to battle it out with each other, especially in states where Huckabee has no chance anyhow. If that happens, Huckabee might be able to cash in some of the southern, more conservative states.

~As for the good news mentioned earlier, Rudy Giulani is expected to drop out of the race today. That is very refreshing news. He is one of the two main reasons I decided to start this effort (the other is Mitt Romney), and I take pleasure in the fact that he will not be the Republican nominee.
Giulani's dismal failure seems to show three things:
a.) Early national polls declaring Rudy the "frontrunner" gauged name recognition, and nothing else.
b.) Momentum is important.
c.) The Republican party still isn't willing to nominate someone quite as liberal as Rudy Giulani.

~Giulani will probably endorse John McCain, which, really, is no surprise. Besides being good friends, they're both strong on defense, weak on marriage, weak on abortion, weak on the Second Amendment, and awful on immigration. The problem is, Giulani's endorsement could provide a significant boost for McCain. States like New Jersey could become McCain blowouts.

~On the Democratic side, John Edwards dropped out of the race. Although he was a "NOT supportable" candidate, his defeat really isn't a victory for this site. The Democrats can only nominate one candidate, and whoever that is, he/she will be unsupportable.