Get Ready for a Long, Protracted Race

Let’s look at the post-New Hampshire races in each party. The GOP first:

McCain still has little or no support among registered Republican voters; his strength is among the so-called mainstream media (one of the reasons GOP voters deeply distrust this man), independent voters, and a slice of Democrats.

McCain cannot be the nominee of the Republican Party precisely because GOP primary voters detest and distrust him. He is pro-amnesty for illegals, has treated many people with arrogance and a mean sarcasm, and has happily attacked conservatives for over two decades.

Yes, the media, Tim Russert, Chris Mathews and others, love him because he attacks Republicans and thus does their work for them. But the Republican Party Base is not going to accept John McCain as their nominee. So, if not this arrogant man, who?

Romney has proven to be a poor candidate, an empty suit. But he may have learned something Sunday night in the Fox debate: McCain will blow his top — he has an awful temper which he has decidedly not controlled despite what he says — when pushed hard on the fact that he is for amnesty for illegals. That two-some, amnesty coupled with the curtain pulled back on McCain’s temper, may be the key for Romney to fight back in Michigan next week.

But who know about Romney? He just doesn’t have it. Trying to be all things to all people he ends up being nothing to anybody.

Huckabee is a damn good candidate but he hasn’t yet shown that he can be a candidate of more than just the evangelical Christians. His performance in New Hampshire shows his appeal, so far, is limited to the values voters only.

Ron Paul? He has yet to translate his online success to getting real votes. Doesn’t look like he’s getting anywhere as New Hampshire’s unique brand of Republicanism was tailor-made for him. He is destined to hang around the single digits — at best.

Rudy? Fuggheddaboutit! He is fading away with his crazy back-and-forth strategy of playing in a state and then dropping out and then going back. A weird, crazy campaign and an accurate reflection of this man.

Fred Thompson? One percent of the vote last night means he’ll drop out after South Carolina. He’s toast . . . a political dead man walking.

I’ll write it here again: the ultimate GOP nominee may not yet even be in the race yet.

Now on to the Democrats:

We have to remember something basic: Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats who caucus or vote in a primary are the most left-leaning of all American voters. These are not middle-of-the-roaders; they are liberals!

So Obama’s success and now Hillary’s so-called comeback are products of the often-odd thinking of liberals.

The notion that a community organizer from Chicago who has done nothing substantive in his life can be president is laughable. But this doesn’t bother the left.

The idea that a little weepy talk/crying jag can become an asset is also a window into the feminization of the Democratic Party. They aren’t the Democrats of New Hampshire who ruined neighbor Ed Muskie when he cried back in 1972.

The odds now favor Hillary’s nomination. It is not over, but this huge comeback win for her will re-energize her campaign like nothing we have seen before. They will now try to move in for the kill of Obama.

They think their tough talk Monday in New Hampshire had a lot to do with it. The Clintons don’t like Obama; they see him as an ungrateful upstart. How dare he challenge Queen Hillary and King Bill — the royal family of the Democratic Party? But, the Clintons better be careful: Too much savaging of Obama may alienate the African-American community. Bill is going to try to slice and dice; we’ll see how that goes.

Obama needs to get specific about what he’d do as president. All his “yes we can” talk only goes so far. He needs to supply the beef — and soon.

Edwards will stay in as he has no other option. This is the last rodeo for him so why not keep going? He can’t really run again for president — two times and you’re out — so he might as well hang in and see what will happen.

Conclusion: In both races, we could be in for a long, protracted rrun. And it is entirely possible that the next president is not yet in the race.