Morning Jay: What Iowa Tells Us About the State of the Race

The Weekly Standard

Comment:

Cost believes that Romney is now in the catbird seat.  All of this because of his victory in Iowa.  This is shaping up as a lot like 2008.  The worst possible outcome.

What happens next?  Supposedly, Gingrich will go on the warpath.  That may make things worse.  He should boost Santorum.  In fact, they all should rally around the not Romney guy, a try to jump start the rest of his campaign.

What happens next?  Perry could drop out.  Bachmann ought to, but that isn't clear at the moment. Assuming they do, conservatives could coalesce around Santorum and Gingrich, but then what?   There are some who say that Santorum won because he wasn't vetted.   Gingrich is wounded.  He ought to drop out now, and if he did, it would help if he would endorse Santorum.   Others say if Perry and Newt stay in, Romney is the nominee.  If the conservatives stay divided, that may well be the case.

So, for a winning conservative strategy, unite behind Santorum.  The odds of that happening?  Not good.

The odds that Romney will be the nominee have increased rather dramatically.  That's my estimation.

I don't like it, but that is the way it looks.

Update:

Pam Geller has a different take-- "It was a great night for America."  I recall that she once said that Santorum "gets it".