Good-Bye Small Diners, Hello Airport Tarmacs
Ok, so much for the intimate gatherings in people's living rooms in New Hampshire, or kissing a pig on a family farm in Iowa. From now until Feb.5, not a pig will be kissed - candidates will leave behind the personal politics of the early states for the impersonal, big money TV-ad fueled, three-states-in-one-day national campaigns of the presidential races.
NPR's Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving looked at the advent of the national campaigns today on News and Notes and whose campaigns might be in trouble when the move comes to the bigger stage.
Now that Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd and Bill Richardson have dropped out, the next Democrat on life support is John Edwards. His campaign is in trouble. He has to win in South Carolina to go on to Florida and then to Super Tuesday.
"Money argues against him, momentum argues against him," says Ron
Headed into Michigan, Ron says the Republican to keep an eye on is John McCain. If he can win there, he can look like a totally remade candidate in Republican politics. It's between McCain and Romney, with Huckabee lurking, waiting for South Carolina - whoever wins gets "a really nice boost."
The perils of losing in Michigan are much greater for Romney. Romney built his strategy around winning Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan. If he loses all three, you really have to ask "Why are you expecting this guy to win anything?" As Ron puts it, "The sale is not being closed by this master salesman."
4:43 PM ET | 01-11-2008 | permalink

