Another Candidate Bites The Dust

A few months ago there were 11 Republicans in the race for the party's nomination for the presidency -- Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Buddy Roemer, Gary Johnson, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, and Jon Huntsman. Today there are only 7 candidates remaining. Only one state has voted so far, but four of those candidates are out (and nobody knows why Roemer is still in the race, since he is virtually ignored by both the polls and the Republicans).

Pawlenty was the first to go. After being thoroughly embarrassed in the Iowa straw poll several months ago and being unable to raise enough funds to keep going, he dropped out. Then came Herman Cain. He was riding high at the top of many polls until voters learned that he couldn't keep his pants zipped when around a woman. After several women came forward to elaborate on his tendency to sexually harass and assault the women he worked with, he realized the only way to stop the unending parade of women to the media was to end his candidacy -- and he did that.

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson was the third to go. For months he tried to get treated with a little respect, but none was forthcoming. He was not invited to participate in most of the debates and a lot of polling companies didn't even list him as an option when surveying Republican voters. Johnson finally read the handwriting on the wall and realized he had no chance to get the Republican nomination. He dropped out, and now he is seeking the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

Yesterday, Michele Bachmann announced she is also suspending her campaign -- making her the fourth candidate to drop out. Having been born and raised in Iowa (and currently living in a neighboring state), Iowa was her best opportunity to revive her flailing campaign. Polls taken before the caucuses show her with only single-digit support, but she assured her supporters that god would perform a miracle for her in the caucuses (she god had told her to run for the nomination). That miracle didn't happen, and she only received a humiliating 5% of the Iowa caucus vote.

Her pitiful turnout in Iowa, combined with her lack of campaign funds, made it obvious that the end had come for her campaign. She told reporters, "I have decided to stand aside", and then she urged Republicans to "stand united behind the person our party chooses to be the standard bearer".

Now the race goes to New Hampshire and then South Carolina. Jon Huntsman must do well in New Hampshire or he will be the next to go. The same goes for Rick Perry in South Carolina. Perry could not afford another 10% fifth-place finish in that state.