Don't Expect Quick End to GOP Race

David Weigel: Ignore the pundits and enjoy the campaigns
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 9, 2012 2:36 PM CST
Don't Expect Quick End to GOP Race
Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Atlanta, Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Pundits are constantly heralding the end of the GOP race: If Newt Gingrich doesn't win this state, he's done; if Mitt Romney carries that state, he's won it all. But Tuesday's contests made us "confront the truth: The Republican race will last until April at the very least," writes David Weigel at Slate. It's simple math, given the 1,144 delegates needed for a win.

We've got it in our heads that things should be decidedly quickly thanks in part to 2008, when states rushed to hold early primaries. But this year, things are going "much, much slower." Gingrich wants to be on par with Romney by the April 3 Texas primary—and that is theoretically possible. What isn't possible is Romney knocking the other candidates out before voting heads south. The fact is, "no one can bottle this race up." Click through to find out why that's a good thing. (More GOP primary stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X