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Mitt's Seconds Looking More Like Lasts

Without big win, and taking lumps from departing GOP rivals

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 30, 2008 2:46 PM CST
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(Newser) – Mitt Romney is “almost there” in his quest to narrow the GOP race to two, but the men he’s beating are hanging tough against him—and the silvers aren’t adding up to gold. The departing Rudy Giuliani is passing the torch to John McCain, while Mike Huckabee—"the Christian leader who never turns the other cheek to Romney"—is willfully staying in to siphon votes from Mitt, argues Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr.

The victorious McCain last night praised Giuliani and Huckabee, “like the Super Bowl quarterback buying rings for his offensive linemen,” Carr notes. Romney lost particularly big in Florida, where a win could have KO’ed McCain’s fundraising—which will instead enjoy a big bump. The worst part of the gang-up? “John McCain is the Bob Dole of 2008:" Telegenic Romney can’t even beat “Gramps.”

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, arrive at the St. Petersburg, Fla., airport Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, for the campaign flight to California. The Republican presidential hopefuls will face off in a debate in Simi Valley Wednesday. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, arrive at the St. Petersburg, Fla., airport Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, for the campaign flight to California. The...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pauses during a his primary watch speech to supporters in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pauses during a his primary watch speech to supporters in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)   (Associated Press)
After the Florida primary was called for Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Adam Johnson, 10, center waits with from left, Charlotte Surrenko, Kem Miller, Shawn Johnson and Russell Thomphsen for Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to speak in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008....
After the Florida primary was called for Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Adam Johnson, 10, center waits with from left, Charlotte Surrenko, Kem Miller, Shawn Johnson and Russell...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters after his Florida primary speech Tuesday night Jan. 29, 2008, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters after his Florida primary speech Tuesday night Jan. 29, 2008, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris...   (Associated Press)
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