Finally, a question about my March Madness 2012 GOP presidential nomination pool that doesn't accuse me of bias, bigotry or fascism.

Eileen Taylor of Ann Arbor, Mich., writes:

I'm having fun with your March Madness pool, but I'm a little confused about something. When I look at "Ken Rudin's Picks," I see you are selecting candidates who are no longer in the running. Please explain.

The votes that have come in during the first three rounds — and there has been an astounding degree of participation — are all from people who are voting their personal choices. The "Ken Rudin Picks" is an indication of the way I think the results would turn out if Republican voters were given the choice. It is solely my opinion.

 

I know 2012 is a long ways from now, but I do think that a Republican electorate would ultimately vote for Mitt Romney over Ron Paul (which is not how you voters saw it). That's just my personal opinion. I'd like to think I'm entitled to that, but not everyone may agree. The fact that many may not agree with my conclusion (Romney over Paul) is fine. That's what makes this interesting. I just wish it didn't have to get ugly.

I disagreed with many other calls as well. I had Sarah Palin defeating Mike Pence, though I concede that Palin has not been getting the best press lately; even Republicans have been trashing her. (And I did pick Paul Ryan over Palin in Round 3.) But I suspect that if she were a serious presidential candidate, and if this was 2012, she would defeat Pence.

Similarly, I don't see in any way, shape or form a scenario in which Jim DeMint beats Mike Huckabee. But that's how the vote tally went. And while Bobby Jindal, like Palin, has been roasted over the coals of late, I think in a presidential primary he beats Charlie Crist. But you guys obviously don't.

(And, for the record, I would have predicted a DeMint loss to Tim Pawlenty in the third round, which is not how the popular vote went.)

Thus, as we approach the end of Round 4 — the deadline is tomorrow — I still have Romney,
Huckabee and Ryan in my Final Four (along with Mark Sanford). Voters have chosen three completely different candidates — Paul, Pence and DeMint — to accompany Sanford.

Who's to say who's right? For the record, just to brandish my credentials, in 2008 I was wrong on the presidential results in Florida, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina, giving Barack Obama considerably fewer electoral votes than he ultimately received. But I had every Senate race right (which will change if Al Franken wins in Minnesota). And I was closer than most with the House race results. I can be right and I can be wrong.

That's what makes it fun. To me, anyway.

Tags: On The Ballot