Ron Paul Is Night's Big Loser

Ron Paul was last night's big loser, coming away from Super Tuesday without a single primary win. His best showing was a second place to Rick Santorum's win in North Dakota, one of the three states along with Idaho and Alaska that Paul targeted. The race was like others before it, Politico notes: An enthusiastic campaign with big crowds and sunny predictions dimmed at the end. The young, enthusiastic crowds might not be so enthusiastic about actually turning up to vote. Paul scooped up 40% of the vote in Virginia, where he faced off against Romney in the two-man race there, but is likely to only garner three of that state's 46 delegates.

Despite the lackluster showing, Paul isn't expected to drop out of the race. "This won't be the end-all," he said before results were known. "This is a long-term operation. It’s going to be May before you can really start picking and choosing, and deciding success or lack of success.” He's off to Kansas on Friday. (More Super Tuesday stories.)