On the other side, John McCain pulled out what has to be considered a stunning victory. McCain was nearly suicidal after how he was treated by Bush and Rove in the state in 2000, only to defeat not one, but two "true conservatives" in Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson, although one could surmise that the two stole votes from one another.
Fred Thompson gave a mind-numbingly incoherent and long concession speech, although the tone was certainly in the context of a farewell speech. I'm guessing he will be calling it quits early next week.
Duncan Hunter, the last remaining openly anti-immigrant republican running, has dropped out.
John McCain must now be considered the front-runner, although he does have two people on his trail, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. If Rudy Giuliani's Super Tuesday strategy pans out, it may be a four person free-for-all. If Guiliani cannot recover, his supporters will most likely turn to McCain, giving the Arizona senator a real chance to clinch this on that Tuesday evening.
On the democratic side, there still is no front-runner. If anyone tells you different, they're lying. John Edwards is the third wheel, and he may play a key role come delegate-counting time, but I look for him bowing out before Super Tuesday, endorsing Obama, looking to ride his coat-tails to the White House as vice president.
Labels: 2008
