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It's Down to Rudy and Mitt

Weekly Standard scribe says no other GOP candidate has a ‘credible scenario’

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 31, 2007 12:24 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The baffling race for the GOP nomination is now down to two, argues the Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes: Only Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have what really matters in the primary fight—“credible” paths to victory. Mitt’s the early-state favorite, the man to beat if he captures Iowa and New Hampshire. Rudy’s “scenario” involves winning Florida and then steamrolling on Super Tuesday. The best bet for the others? Pray for a miracle.

John McCain and Fred Thompson have effectively become second-tier candidates nine weeks before primary polls open, as they can’t claim plausible roads to Saint Paul. Both can hope for upset wins in South Carolina, but they’re still too short on money to launch bids for bigger states. And hoping someone else will slip, Barnes adds, isn’t really a winning strategy.

Republican presidential hopeful and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani signs autographs after attending a rally in Cincinnati in this Aug. 9, 2007, file photo. Giuliani leads the field in national popularity polls, but Mitt Romney, the ex-governer of Massachusetts, has maintained an edge over him and others in...
Republican presidential hopeful and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani signs autographs after attending a rally in Cincinnati in this Aug. 9, 2007, file photo. Giuliani leads the field in national...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign stop in Greer, S.C., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. The former Massachusetts governor's visit comes on the heels of campaign stops this week by GOP rivals Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign stop in Greer, S.C., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. The former Massachusetts governor's visit comes on the heels of campaign stops this week...   (Associated Press)
Republican Presidential Candidates Debate In New Hampshire
Republican Presidential Candidates Debate In New Hampshire   (Getty Images)
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (L), former New York...
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (L), former New York...   (Getty Images)
Republican presidential hopefuls former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talk to each other after the GOP Presidential candidates debate at Ford Community and Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Republican presidential hopefuls former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talk to each other after the GOP Presidential candidates debate at Ford Community and...   (Associated Press)
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