His “dismal” fundraising is actually tops on the Republican side, sure he’s spent more, and thus had to put more money into his campaign, but he’s raise more money from outside sources than any Republican Candidate.

Huh? No, he's raised far, far less than Giuliani from "outside sources."

Traditionally, winning Iowa and New Hampshire created momentum that was nearly impossible to overcome. With the race so frontloaded, though, I’m dubious that this will matter at all.

I see the frontloading as making Iowa and New Hampshire even more important. Suppose Romney wins those two. With the compression there's so little time for any other candidate to steal momentum. There's no much time after Iowa and New Hampshire for anyone (yet along a primary voter) to breathe.

I see it like 2004 which wasn't nearly as compressed. Dean loses Iowa, screams, loses momentum, and gives Kerry the opening he needed.

Romney's polling seems to be going entirely in the same direction all the time - up! Look at the graph and compare it to McCain's abysmal polling. Now ask yourself, who is a top tier candidate?

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That said, I am not so sure the GOP voter is willing to accept the annointing this go around.

I don't think Romney is exactly a top tier candidate, but unlike some of the other lower tier candidates, he does seem to have the ability to be a politician, and one of the current top tier candidates still hasn't announced-that candidate probably pulls from both Romney and Guliani.

The 'also rans' don't have that shot (neither in the polls nor the money). And lets be realistic, there is a very decent chance that we will see the 2008 republican convention with out a first round ballot win. At that point, any delegates you pick up could be key (to either the nomination or to the VP slot).

I'm beginning to wonder if anybody is going to win the Republican nomination.

Somebody has to, I suppose.

The Republicans are in the same boat the Democrats were in in 2004: Looking for the perfect guy. Given the conflicts within the big Republican tent, that's not going to happen. Ronald Reagan wouldn't be "conservative" enough were he running today.

My guess is that any of the top tier Republicans, save perhaps Romney, would be acceptable once he's a fait accompli. Certainly, given Hillary as the likely opponent, there will be plenty of enthusiasm for the nominee.

Two friends of mine, Stormwarning and American Phoenix have posted similar feelings about Rudy Giuliani. Specifically, in regards to the perception Rudy has been accepted, if not endorsed, by the religious right. I don’t see this as what’...