Some random thoughts, with apologies to Larry King and USA Today, on the eve of tomorrow's Ultimate Tuesday. ...
Obama is moving up and up, ever since South Carolina and Teddy K. He is now tied in most national polls. If he wins New Jersey in Hillary's backyard, wins the popular vote in CA, and comes closer in NY than she does in Illinois - all likely in my view - he'll be the new frontrunner. I'm sure Das Hillary Apparat is very worried and upset (sensible pumps are certainly bouncing off campaign plane walls) since all the energy is going against them. Obama could really sweep tomorrow in a lot of places. His money advantage is very impressive as well. It'll keep going, but tomorrow could be another big turning point.
Jumpin' Johnny McCain is in very strong shape, very likely to be the nominee. Great advantage for the Mac in the winner-take-all primaries. Romney has some hope of an upset in California, but it is not winner-take-all, so the delegate payoff will be limited. Mitt may pull a few caucus wins, but the national numbers look tough.
A wild-eyed Mike Huckabee seen in rural Alabama jungle making "I see a snail crawling along the edge of a straight razor" radio broadcasts. Time to get the elephant gun and end the suffering. ...
Amazingly, it appears that Mitt World had no real strategy for Ultimate Tuesday, other than waiting till after Florida and then waiting some more finally to flail around and wing it when there is no time left. And I wonder how smart bailing out of South Carolina for Nevada feels now.
Meanwhile, McCain Inc. tries to keep up with the Romney campaign in the "what are they thinking department with a time-wasting and gratuitous stop in Massachusetts, one of the few places McCain is very likely to lose. Huh?
Lots of talk in the media about McCain vs. The Mighty Wombats of Talk Radio. Ask President Tancredo about that one. The talkers can raise an issue to prominence, they can entertain, but they do not really deliver actual votes. Sorry Rush.
Defeated Senate schemer Rick Santorum now campaigning for Mitt with a way-over-the-top robocall calling McCain nuts. A cheap shot from a prickly guy; a lot of people in GOP politics miss Santorum's voting record in DC, but very few miss him.
Which leads to the illegal immigration issue. From an election results perspective it appears hanging out with the anti-immigrant Bund seems to be a kiss of death. Tancredo: fizzled. Fred Thompson, endorsed by Iowa nativist Steve King; Kaput. Now Romney; on the ropes. I've never seen an issue with so much perceived heat, yet such short legs on Election Day.
