Super Tuesday

Ten states had primaries. Mitt Romney won six, including the all important state of Ohio, Rick Santorum three and Newt Gingrich one. Ron Paul won nothing to keep his streak alive. In delegates it was Romney 198, Santorum 84, Gingrich 68 and Paul 21.

That brings the current delegate count up to Romney 404 (55.3%), Santorum 161 (22.0%), Gingrich 105 (14.4%) and Paul 61 (8.3%).

Romney is slowly, but surely, edging his way toward the nomination. Assuming he doesn’t spike himself on the left edge of his tongue prior to the convention, I don’t see any way he loses it. Intrade has him at 89%.

That brings up the question of Romney vs. Obama.

You can be sure that Mitt will beat a hasty retreat from anything remotely associated with the culture wars and pound away at the economy, the deficit and jobs. Which is precisely what he should do.

The latest RCP average shows Obama leading Romney by about 5 points 49.5% to 44.3%. The latest electoral estimates at RCP show 227 for Obama, 181 for the Republican candidate and 130 undecided. Obviously that may change once Romney becomes the clear nominee.

The winner is going to be the one that manages to stir up the enthusiasm in their base. Obama hasn’t delivered on his 2008 promise and conservatives aren’t all that happy with Romney. They’re not happy now, wait until rubber boy springs back to the center. Both of those attitudes translate into not bothering to vote and that could be significant in the battleground states. Intrade has Obama at 60% at the moment.

I might be able to live with Romney as president if he wasn’t a Republican. It’s the party baggage he brings with him that worries me.