Dave, I wasn’t saying that that Allen was the clear favorite
pre-‘Macaca,’ but I think it’s fair to say he was seen as a top
contender (see this
March Rich Lowry column). In fact, his Senate race has generated so
much controversy precisely because he was seen to be in the running
for the presidential nomination. That he even attained that status
I found perplexing. So, I’m not arguing against his being an
A-level candidate, I was surprised that anybody would consider him
even a C-level candidate.