This is great. If Bachmann and Perry drop out, their votes go to Santorum, Huntsman steals moderate votes from Romney, and Santorum takes New Hampshire.
Except for the part where Bachmann, Perry and Santorum combined don't make even a blip on the map in New Hampshire yer theory makes sense!
Consider...
Mitt Romney has pulled further ahead of his GOP opponents in New Hampshire, according to a Suffolk University/7 News poll out tonight.
The former Massachusetts governor takes 41 percent in the poll of likely primary voters, a full 26 points ahead of any other contender for the Republican nomination.
Second in the poll is Ron Paul, with 15 percent, and Newt Gingrich comes in third at 11 percent. Jon Huntsman, who's banking on a strong finish in New Hampshire to propel his campaign forward, was fourth with 9 percent.
www.politico.com
Catch that? All them folk are BEHIND HUNTSMAN.
Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll earlier on by providing the best entertainment and sammiches.
Santorum won or came close enough in Iowa by relentlessly pursuing the evangelical vote which is the majority vote in IA.
None of that matters now.
Neither pol matters in terms of the general except in that one of the two may theoretically be asked to run as Veep in order to "balance the ticket" a'la Palin. Which is to say to be the religious porkchop the establishment GOPhers (RINOs, Corporate Whores, 1%ers, NeoCons et al) tie around Romney's neck in order to get the Fundy voters to play with him.
Which will no doubt have a negative effect on moderates and independents in the general again a'la Palin but the GOP will most likely chance it because at the end of the day they are creatures of habit. They are too afraid to not "turn out the base" in the proscribed manner set down long ago by Saint Ronnie (PBUH).
So.. that'll be lulzy.
Not matter how fast you spin the wheel here LULZ comes up the winner every time.
Be Well.