Des Moines Register Poll out Romney 24 Paul 22 Santorum 15

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9. There are 27 proportional primaries

All of the top tier and second tier candidates will have nothing to lose in staying in.

Look at Pawlenty. If he hadn't dropped out he might be leading.

Even if they run out of money they can still get all the exposure they need by appearing on Fox.

If there are three active candidates, let alone 6 then it is impossible for one to get 51%.

Romney's biggest lead is in New Hampshire where he only has 40% ( and that could go down)

Romney isn't going to be the establishment's pick because they know he is the worst candidate for getting the base out and getting House and Senate candidates getting elected.

Romney is already having money problems in that he has the highest percentage of donors that have already maxed out.

The establishment does have a vote in its version of super delegates. Romney has so far picked up only 17 out of some 400.

The establishment would like to flush this whole pack down the toilet and come up with two governors from swing states like Daniels from Indiana and McDonnell from Virginia that poll very well within their own state and have a good chance to attract independents.

Romney will not have much of a money edge because he will have to compete in so many states at the same time while Perry can concentrate on Texas and Paul can pick out his states.

Unless all of the other candidates drop out then Romney can only hope to go to the convention and insist that he has earned it. If three or four drop out it will consolidate the anti-Romney numbers, so far each time somebody has dropped out Romney has not gained a single point and the others have come up.