I still see Mitt Romney as a virtual lock for the Republican nomination, but it’s going to be really ugly getting there. It looks like we’ll be deep into the spring — and maybe all the way to the convention — before his three current rivals begin bowing out.
Georgia is the single biggest prize on Super Tuesday (March 6th) and Romney seems to have little chance to do well here, although the volatility of the race could theoretically change that.
In a poll last week by Landmark/RosettaStone of actual Republican voters in 2008 or 2010, Gingrich still had the home state lead with 35.3% (pretty tepid support, I’d say), with Santorum at 26.1%, Romney at a meager 16.1%, and Ron Paul at 4.8%.
Romney does somewhat better with women and with older voters, but he doesn’t break 20% among any major demographic groups. Romney is dead last among 18 to 34 year olds.
Romney got 30% of the statewide vote in a tight third-place finish in 2008 behind Mike Huckabee and John McCain.
More dwindling support for the presumptive nominee.