Do you think Rick Perry will fizzle out before Iowa?

[bluestateguy]

If not, why not?

If he does fizzle out, who will emerge as the anti-Romney? It has to be someone.

[Lucinda]

1. I still think Palin is a factor, but I know I'm in the minority.

I still believe she will jump in at the very last minute.
Romney/Rubio seems likely to me though unless a lot changes. I just don't see anyone else gaining ground right now.

[rustydog]

8. Nope, Palin's running for president of Russia..wait, that was Putin...

never mind

[pinto]

2. I think it's likely. Press coverage - a perception key in a national election - is running negative.

:shrug:

[Vincardog]

3. I believe Gov. Good Hair was only allowed in to kick out The Krazy Bachman he will retire to his

safe job killing brown people in TX soon

[Rabblevox]

4. I'd call it doubtful. He's got both money and machine...

but it's WAY too early to tell who the finalists will be.

I'm guessing that Perry and Romney will both be the final candidates in it to the end, with Jeb Bush as a last-minute candidate who ends up winning the nomination.

But, that is just a wild-assed guess made under the influence, I'll book mark this to re-visit convention time to see how it plays out.

What's not a wild-assed guess is that I will vote for Obama and a blue slate in congress, despite my disappointment, and try to convince my friends and neighbors to do the same.

[madrchsod]

5. no....romney is not controversial.

right now perry is the rodeo clown. what he`ll be next year depends on how much money the wealthy right wants to spend on him.

[On the Road]

6. No, I Think He'll be in it for a While

He still might even win. McCain was counted out more than once in 2008.

Perry's type of populist charisma resonates with a lot of folks. The talking heads's judgment of who won these early debates is not as important to voters as it is to news junkies.

[Drix]

7. I predict no clear winner.

And a bloody floor fight at the convention.

[customerserviceguy]

9. I can see a three or four way split by the time of the convention

Romney with the 40% of Repig delegates who are the country-clubbers, Perry with about 35% of the good-old boy bible thumper types, and Bachmann with most of the remaining 35% who would comprise tea partiers and some of the snake handlers from Northern states. Of course, it would not be impossible for Ron Paul's supporters to grab their own 10-15% by trimming a little off of Perry and Bachmann.

With no one having a clear path to a first ballot victory, any straggling Rethugs with more than a handful of delegates might just hold on to them, hoping to be the dark horse compromise candidate that emerges from the convention, so I don't see anyone besides the very bottom tier releasing their delegates (if they have any) or endorsing another candidate.

Mitt Romney is completely unacceptable to the fundies that make up so very much of the Republicon party, and a significant minority of the tea partiers don't trust him because of past flip-flops. Of course, Perry's rise is gone, but I see him holding on to a core of support, just like Bachmann will now that Perry's shot himself in the foot.

Repukes will have a real mess on their hands, because they all think Obama is beatable this time, and they want to make sure they have someone who is most acceptable to them individually, rather than the country as a whole.

[brettdale]

10. They are actually looking quite weak.

The debates have been a disaster, the crowds ahve been idiots, the only problem is, if the economy
really tanks, then Obama will lose.