So That's That

(Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin / Miami Herald (April 5, 2012)and featured at McClatchy DC. Click on image to enlarge and then return.)

There may not have been a primary yesterday, but there was the kind of news that had virtually the same effect. Rick Santorum has "suspended" his campaign, acknowledging that Romney has the nomination sewn up. I suspect that the polls in Pennsylvania showed Santorum trailing Romney by enough that he finally had to admit that the cause was lost. I also think that his disabled daughter's deteriorating health also played a part in the family decision.

So, yes, Mitt: you are finally there. It's finally over.

Or is it?

Oh, I don't doubt that Romney will be the nominee, but at this point there are still two more opponents hanging around. As I pointed out yesterday, Newt Gingrich keeps saying that he's in for the long haul. He won't be much of a presence at the remaining contests (in fact, he might not even appear on the Utah ballot because the filing fee check from his campaign bounced), but he still wants to keep things conservative.

And Ron Paul? Who knows what he has in mind. He shows up for speaking engagements, gets some votes and a couple of delegates, and then moves on to the next stop on his grand libertarian road trip.

I think Mitt Romney will gradually move back to the center after the last of the Southern primaries, shaking his etch-a-sketch vigorously before he gets to California. While social and fiscal conservatives may not be thrilled by his candidacy (hence the low turn-out throughout most of the primaries), they do want to oust Obama and Romney is their best chance for that. The Tea Partiers don't seem to have the clout in this race, but at this point they seem to be more focused on down ballot candidates (congressional and state races) anyway.

Now the real question in this household is what am I going to do with all this popcorn?