I have to think the third place finisher may get a boost and end up closer to the front runners after the Huckabee-Romney slugfest. Romney who just months ago was swearing off negative ads now has gone full throttle on tearing down Huckabee which just may work. But the reverse is also true: Huckabee has done a fairly good job muddying up Romney. Meanwhile I and others see an electability argument from the other contenders that essentially says– “Hey I’m not as bad as these guys who the Democrats will kill.” Just as the Democratic race may end with no decisive winner the only result after Thrusday for the Republicans may be the desire to get back to some policy substance– that will benefit Thompson, Rudy and McCain. UPDATE: Here’s a more positive, less sneering view of the Huckabee presser than I’ve seen from others. If that’s the prevailing view Huckabee may have outsmarted the national press corps. Nah! Never happens, right?
