January 31, 2012 at 7:57 pm  Greg Laden

So what is the pattern? A horse race. I suspect this is going to be a horse race through Super Tuesday, at which time the horses will count up the delegates. I also suspect that Gingrich will stay in this race as long as it is mathematically possible even if it would require a bolt of lighting to possibly win.

I no longer think Santorum is a factor. Did I mention that Ron Paul is irrelevant?

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Greg Laden is described in his blog as an anthropologist and science communicator. As he is not a political analyst perhaps he can be excused if his conclusions are at least partly off base. What he misses in his analysis (which may be true from a superficial perspective) is this:

Election of Romney, Gingrich, or Santorum will result in little if any change in the political landscape. Big intrusive government will remain the status quo and individual liberties will continue to erode. On the other hand, a defeat for Ron Paul in the GOP campaign matters little, if at all, to his place in  history. Congressman Paul is changing history in this campaign because he is turning the hearts and minds of the youth of America in new directions. The future belongs to the young, not to the winner of the GOP campaign or the 2012 election. Ron Paul’s prime directive was always the reawakening and reeducation of an America which had lost its way. Ron Paul is accomplishing what he set out to do. Ron Paul is winning the only truly important contest here.