Why the media make such a big deal about each new (and doomed) GOP Flavor of the Month

Jacob Weisberg at Slate says that the media, for their own self-interested reasons (i.e., as reporters who want a long and exciting race, and as liberals who want to divide and weaken the GOP), are engaged in “an insider conspiracy” in which they make believe that there is a wide-open contest for the Republican nomination, when in fact Romney is the all-but-inevitable winner:

So expect to hear more and more about less and less likely alternatives to a Romney victory in the coming weeks. Jon Huntsman, the only candidate yet to enjoy a moment of popular enthusiasm, could do better than expected in New Hampshire. Once Rick Perry joins Michele Bachmann in dropping out, conservative sentiment could coalesce around the unlikely survivor Rick Santorum. Chris Christie could still change his mind! Anything could happen, of course, but it won’t. In the end, the GOP is overwhelmingly likely to nominate Romney because he is the most electable candidate available and at this point, no one else can beat him.

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Gordon B. writes:

As one living in Georgia and active in local politics, I can tell you that the race here (and probably in bordering southeastern states such as Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Kentucky) will be between Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Mitt Romney will be a distant fourth.

Al H. writes:

In reply to reader Gordon B.’s comment:

“As one living in Georgia and active in local politics, I can tell you that the race here (and probably in bordering southeastern states such as Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Kentucky) will be between Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Mitt Romney will be a distant fourth.”

I don’t know how much you follow the primaries and delegate count, but Romney really doesn’t have to worry about any of the states Gordon listed. As of right now, if Romney finishes in the top two or three spots in South Carolina and Florida this contest is pretty much over. The seven states leading up to Super Tuesday are almost definite locks for Romney. With Perry, Santorum, and Gingrich splitting the vote I see no scenario in which Romney loses. Might as well get used to Romney as GOP nominee. I suppose as a conservative I should be upset, but I can’t get worked up about it. None of the candidates left would implement any bold policy changes. I think our government’s fiscal realities will dictate policy in years to come, not some bold conservative savior.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at January 05, 2012 03:02 PM | Send