Both the result in Florida and Mitt’s little speech were, at this point, quite predictable. The polls show that the overwhelming FL sentiment was get behind the guy who can beat Obama.
Positive evidence for the other guys: Newt is still tied with Mitt nationwide, and Romney remains stuck in the twenties. Polls posted today out of Missouri and Ohio show Gingrich, Romney, and Santorum in close to a three-way tie. (Romney isn’t leading in either case.) Will Santorum poll significantly better in the ethnic, Catholic, more industrial states of the Midwest? Certainly possible. Could a protracted campaign keep anyone from getting a majority of the delegates? Unlikely but not impossible. Let’s say Mitt could very easily lose Missouri and Minnesota in February, and not win Michigan by much. On Super-Tuesday, he could lose both Ohio and Georgia.
All this is more possible if Newt gets his newt back. It is, of course, irresponsible to hope for THAT.
I’m sticking with a one chance in three it’s not over on Super-Tuesday or before.
