The Haze Filter

Winning In South Carolina ::

Today is primary day in S.C. and it's going to be interesting to see who walks away a winner with this one. Until earlier this week Romney seemed to have the winner's slot tied up but Gingrich, with his performance in last Thursday's debate, has at least pulled even, if not ahead. I also expect Ron Paul to do well although I can't see that he will have the numbers to be anything more than be a spoiler for Santorum and Santorum will be the next exit, probably after Florida.

As a native of South Carolina, who long ago had the good sense to leave the state, I eagerly await this evenings results since this local race is generally touted as historically selecting the eventual republican nominee.

The Republican Debate ::

Sounds like Newt came to fight!

[ update ] Santorum is not doing too badly in the fight either!

[ update ] Romney is getting creamed by everyone on the stage and is relegated to stammering and stuttering!

Debate Time Tonight ::

So, we get to be treated to yet another round of the same angry white men standing on stage pandering to a rabidly partisan crowd tonight. I actually watched the "debate" last weekend and found it pretty interesting as much for the hidden messages to the audience as well as the overt falsehoods that were spread. I'll probably watch at least a portion of this one tonight, but I certainly don't expect anything new.

We also have the news that prior to the debate ABC will air an interview with the the 2nd Mrs. Gingrich, Marian, who promises to that she has enough information about Newt to shut down his campaign. This should make the debate even more interesting, but I'm still waiting for everyone to try to pile on Romney. My impression is that all of the other candidates are running for the vice president slot!

An Interesting CNN Poll ::

Found on the CNN web site the morning after the republican debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.:

Last night's debate was the first that I'd watched in its entirety, painful as that was, and I was most interested in the crowd reactions as this crowd seemed to be the most vocal of any of the debates that I had watched portions of and I never felt that they were behind any one candidate in any sort of solid fashion.

Perry and Paul both showed their delusional view of how foreign and domestic policy should be conducted and I certainly don't see them going anywhere. I can't see where Gingrich helped himself any, but I felt that Santorum held his own and the crowd responded to his warped religious view.

I think that South Carolina, my home state, will go for Romney, then Santorum, then Paul, followed distantly by Gingrich and Perry. I don't see any surprises in the future.