As in Republican presidential candidates. In the midst of Saturday’s Iowa straw poll, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced his candidacy. By Sunday, after a disappointing third place finish in the straw poll, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty gave up his bid for the position.
I expect we will see a few other candidates drop out of the race in the next 30-45 days, but I don’t expect Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, winner of the straw poll, to be one of them. She, Perry and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney are probably in it for the long haul.
I still think, as I did four years ago, that Romney is the Republicans best chance in 2012. But I won’t be surprised if they nominate Perry. Already, though, the hits on Perry have started with this “10 things” list from TPM. The Wall Street Journal joined it with a piece about his “Crony Capitalism Problem.”
It’s going to be a long 15 months 😦
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I think Perry becomes the favorite for the nomination because he’ll get some people from Romney and some people from Bachmann. I agree with you that Romney would be a better bet in the general. I think the Republicans now have four long-term candidates, the three you mentioned plus Ron Paul, who’ll hang in there forever although he won’t win anywhere.
Ron Paul may hang in there, but I don’t expect him to be a factor.