Josh Marshall: A Few Takeaways From Tonight’s Result

[MADem]

2. JM has hit a few nails right on the head, here.

Romney has a problem--I can't put my finger on precisely what it is, but it is a "smarm" problem. People just don't like the guy. He's a dork who tries too hard. He has too much money, too much Brylcreme in his hair, and he comes off like the phony he is, even with an open collar and a "casual" shirt.

Newt IS an asshole. He is a petty, mean, bitter little jerk with an ego the size of his soft, enormous fishlike gut. His bobble-headed wife is NOT an asset (I can't look at her without picturing her under the Speeekah's desk, myself). He WILL go after Mittsy for shits-n-giggles. He likes to be the class bully. He used to try to do it to Clinton, but Clinton was way better than he was--Bill knew how to play Rope a Dope. I don't think Romney could do that, even if he took lessons from Clinton for a year or more.

Huntsman keeps running his ads in NH....he skipped Iowa and has been concentrating heavily on NH and he could surprise a lot of people. His daddy's PAC may well fire up a few more of these "Presidential" ads as things start heating up. If Newt and Romney start acting like a couple of carping kindergarteners, the one who will end up looking like the only adult in the room is ....The Other Mormon.

I'm waiting for Ron Paul to jump the shark. It's only a matter of time.

What a circus!

This could get interesting.