For those of us that study politics day in and day out, listen to both Fox News and MSNBC just in case we missed something or something was left off, accidentally or purposely, the Republican Primary thus far has had just about all political lessons or experiences occur during it, which normally do not all occur in the same election cycle. In the end it appears that the Massachusetts Governor, who began with about twenty-four percent of Republicans behind him and even now polls about the same, is poised to become the Republican nominee, barring a Rick Santorum surge that can survive the Romney Super-PAC money machine that put the nails in Gingrich’s political coffin. Many would say that Gingrich was already laying in his political coffin, or as David Axelrod put it, politicians are in skirts and the higher you rise, the more you expose your “business”.
Yet it was Romney’s Super-PAC that spent the millions against Gingrich when it appeared that he was surging at the right time and sent him tumbling back down. Money, enough of it, is still king and can, if not outright buy an election, greatly influence it. Before Gingrich’s rise, it had been Bachmann at the top, she is from Iowa. Most expect her to quit after this State’s primary. Then came Herman Cain, who stayed on top longer than most and was getting more attention than anyone else, which of course you need, but at the same time if your “business” is not clean it will sink you. As you we all know that is exactly what happened to Herman Cain. In the meantime, Mitt Romney continued to cruise at his consistent twenty plus percent, but since polling indicated that his more moderate views, some would argue even liberal views, were causing him to poll better than the rest of them in a head to head match up with President Obama, the Institutions and the money of the Republican Party lined up behind him.
The endorsements starting coming in for Romney, his Super-PAC exploded with money and the Godfathers of that party were seeking to seal the deal for him, regardless of his moderate views, Mormon religion and flip-flops. When Gingrich fell off the cliff, it appeared that it was all over and Romney was also acting as it if was, then comes Santorum. Better timing for a surge there could not be. His “business” may not be squeaky clean, but it has been aired before and at least for Republican voters, is at least palpable if not downright scrumptious. The Romney Super-PAC now turns its’ guns on Santorum, but the surge is so late in the game that it might be too late for the ads as well, for Iowa anyway. Romney touts how Santorum endorsed him in 2008, which the latter says he did only to keep McCain from getting the nomination. Iowa is four for five for picking the eventual nominee, so Santorum is very well-positioned.
Chicano Channel Magazine
