This Isn't Rocket Science

The results of the Michigan presidential primary have been enough to turn the Conventional Wisdom on its head. It should have come as no surprise that Gov. Romney was able to take advantage of his home-field advantage to win by a comfortable margin. He has been a contender all along, but now the pundits have no choice but to pay more attention to him. Michigan is much larger and more diverse than Iowa or New Hampshire, and is already in a state of recession, which the rest of the USA is worried about slipping into.

• McCain - Expected to do better in South Carolina, where he faces stiff competition from Gov. Huckabee and a resurgent Sen. Thompson. Judging by the number of Democrats who crossed over to vote for him, one wonders if he's running for President under the wrong party. Except for his support of the war in Iraq, he is by far the most liberal of all the Republican candidates.
• Huckabee - This former Baptist preacher did not receive as many Protestant and especially evangelical Christian votes as many people assumed he would get, demonstrating that this major component of the Republican Party is not as monolithic as expected.
• Romney - Plans to concentrate on Nevada next, but will not ignore South Carolina.
• Democrats - This one didn't count, as the DNC refused to recognize any delegates from Michigan because it scheduled its primary too early. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to note that "Uncommitted" competed so strongly against Hillary, contradicting the line the Clinton machine would have us believe, that she is the candidate we want.