You can pick your polls and the result, but with the largest sampling, Reuters/Zogby now has Romney over McCain by 3 in California. California assigns delegates by district. Romney's been pushing for a split there.
Zogby is less optimistic on Romney in Missouri, while other polls show the race tightening to 3 - 4 points. Missouri is winner take all, with 58 delegates. The polls are split on the margin for McCain.
Three things may be working against McCain completely breaking away right now. As Mona Charen points out, rather than looking like a gracious front runner, he's been showing a certain arrogance, particularly in a recent debate. Additionally, many vocal conservatives seem to have finally discovered Mitt Romney, what with their fear of a McCain presidency.
Finally, many of the state contests slated for Tuesday assign delegates by county, or district. That could allow Romney to stay competitive in the delegate count, regardless of who wins the state. But it's unclear if there's enough momentum behind Romney to keep McCain from breaking out.
Here's a recent podcast with Romney via Instapundit.
While this is good for Romney, it still makes him look like the underdog. However w/ phase 4 after Super Tuesday, things could change down the road. Zogby was pretty accurate regarding the polling result in Florida although that probably won't be the case in California. We'll have to wait and see comes Tuesday.
Posted by: Kaitian | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Romney has the funding to carry on- the key is not to lose by too much Tuesday and continue to create doubt about Mccain.
There is a reason Johnny was trying to sound like he's inevitable- he knows the longer he can't put away Mitt the more he will feel compelled to embrace the Huckster for a deal down the line.
McCain needs to end this quickly or else people become more aware of his many flaws.
Posted by: jjshaka | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 11:14 AM
www.writeinfred.com
Posted by: delburd | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 01:13 PM
HEY DUFUS REPUBLICAN VOTERS......REMEMBER..BOB DOLE ??????? TRY NOT TO REPEAT!.....MITT ROMNEY SHOULD BE OUR NOMINEE!
McCAIN IS TOOOO OLD, A RINO, AND THERE IS NOTHING PRESIDENTIAL ABOUT THE MAN!
HUCKABEE IS AN EGOMANIAC FOR CONTINUING AT THIS STAGE... TRYING TO BE THE SPOILER! I don't see anything Christian in his defiance, only a glimpse into his core characteristics....I do not like him at all....sleezy person!
Posted by: L. | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 02:01 PM
L., what was hilarious was all of the Huckabee supporters were bashing Romney as a "media-loved, sleazy, too slick like Ken Barbie politician" when pretty much the slick is correct but the rest were false. They were resorting to any tactic to bring down Romney.
Posted by: Kaitian | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 03:47 PM
People have to remember that Huckabee is looking for a job. His own prospects are a tiny Baptist college in Arkansas. It's a fate he'd like to avoid at all costs. He'd probably settle for department or agency.
Posted by: Banjo | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Hey Delburd...
Please don't post that "writeinfred" link anywhere else. Fred is done, he is going to enjoy the next four years doing movies or another Law & Order series, or sipping Mint Juleps on his porch watching his kids grow up.
We "Frederalists" need to back a candidate who is actually still in the running - and that would be Mitt.
Posted by: seekeronos | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 10:55 PM