Lynn Coffin holds boxing hand puppets of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (left) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a campaign event this week in Sarasota, Fla.

Lynn Coffin holds boxing hand puppets of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (left) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a campaign event this week in Sarasota, Fla.

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Why A Fight To The Finish May Not Be A Bad Thing

Popular wisdom holds that a long and bitter primary election will hurt the eventual nominee come November. Drawn-out nomination races, the thinking goes, drain coffers and give rivals more time to gather ammunition. But analysts say a bruising primary can have certain advantages.