**POLL: Romney leads McCain by 37-34 in CA...

reuters ^ | 020308 | John Whitesides

[WOSG]

“1st McCain 1,200,000 2nd Romney 1,134,000 3rd Huckabee 603,000

Subtract Independents and cross-over Democrats from the above and I believe Romney would have a sizeable lead at this point.”

PING for TRUTH! Yes, he would.

[WOSG]

I was cool on the Matt Blunt idea since I heard he’s not doing great in polls -— can he carry Missouri and help in midwest is the key ... then I saw this:

“attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.”

This is a hat-trick for nailing the base: conservative, Baptist, veteran, good southern/midwest regional candidate.

Now, if he can debate toe-to-toe, he’s in.