[RC one]

I wonder if Romney is financing his campaign now?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wonder if Romney is financing his campaign now?

Really? How do you come to that wondering point Einstein?

[magritte]

Lol ! Hilarious ! And Newt is sponsored by Ron Paul to help split the “semi-conservative” vote.

[Qbert]

Perry: On to Florida

Romney: On to Easy Nomination

[spetznaz]

It doesn't matter. Whether or not Perry is striving forward due to his own beliefs, those of his wife, or those of another entity really doesn't matter anymore. He is polling around 5% in both SC and FL. His impact for or against the other Conservatives (Gingrich and Santorum) running is nonexistant. Whether he stays or leaves his ability to bless or curse the campaign died before Iowa.

He is NOT a spoiler ...he doesn't have the momentum or votes to be one.

The real decision that needs to be made is between Gingrich and Santorum. They are the two who have the lion's share (almost all of it, apart from Perry's 5%) of the Conservative vote. It is between the two of them to decide who, once SC and FL is over, will need to leave and endorse the other. Those two are the ones 'spoiling' for each other because at this point Perry stopped being relevant weeks back. Even for the two Conservative front-runners there is a ticking clock. By FL conservative voters will start making their own shifts - endorsement or no endorsement. In the same way they moved from Perry. If Gingrich beats Santorum in SC and FL a good number of Santorum's supporters will shift to Gingrich. Same thing if Santorum beats Gingrich in SC and FL. Why? Because voters are not stupid - they may not necessarily be super geniuses (the media has really played a good game on people), but they are not stupid. They can see that unless support is directed to ONE Conservative candidate that the race will be lost.

The two leading Conservative candidates will need to make a decision once FL rolls over before they are made as unnecessary as Perry.

And as for those calling Perry a spoiler - that is unfair and unfortunate. His opportunity to bless or curse the race dried up weeks back. His ability to influence towards Romney or towards Santorum or towards Gingrich is no longer present. The 5% supporting him are his core. The real impact will come from Gingrich supporting Santorum, or from Santorum supporting Gingrich. Perry at this stage is a nice man with a good record in Texas and no real impact left in the race - whether he leaves or stays - as long as BOTH Gingrich and Santorum are in the race. It is between Gingrich and Santorum to decide who should coalesce the Conservative vote ...and if neither is man enough to do so it also doesn't matter. Come FL voters will make the decision themselves.

[isthisnickcool]

I wonder if Romney is financing his campaign now?

Dumb thing to say. Perry is a scrapper. He won't go down without a fight.

So far very little has happened in the race. At this point is is akin to saying who wins the World Series or Super Bowl after three pre-season games. We have had two yankee non-conservative pissant states and one open primary state before us. And we are supposed to say that they get to decide what the rest of the country does?

This process, especially the media part of it, is a crock. It allows the RNC and others to game the "game" if you will. We should not declare anyone the winner until this is a true winner. Up to that point anyone with the support and the grit to run should.

Perry holds first "debate" with Obama. Up close and personal. Right in the boy king's grill. Man-to-man. On the subject of the border and immigration.

[precisionshootist]

Yes he is.

It's very clear that Gingrich, Perry, Ron Paul and Santorum are NOT really running for president. They are only in this to help Romney get the nomination. Huntsman is just in it to make Romney look more conservative and thus help get Romney the nomination.

[altura]

Not responding to stupidity.

[montyspython]

There are only two places Rick Perry can win a primary, Texas and Mexico.