Tight GOP Race

Michigan is tomorrow, where Mitt is positioned well (McCain's claims debunked here), and South Carolina and Nevada (spotty polls) on Friday for the GOP. Jay Cost, RCP skeptical of the McCain bandwagon so soon. Lots of insight, but here's one key point:

Examining congressional endorsements for McCain and Romney, excluding in-state supporters (as they often act more out of home state pride than ideological proximity), we find some interesting results. 34 Republicans have endorsed Mitt Romney, while just 24 have endorsed McCain. Furthermore, Romney's supporters are more in line with conservative opinion. Their average 2006 ACU rating was 84.1, and 26 of them come from states Bush won in 2004.

The polls are tightening in Florida, which has already begun voting, it's now a 4-way race. Rudy has dropped dramatically.

Voting also starts today in Illinois, just got a McCain email forwarded to me, trying to build an organization here--a bit late. I will report that our straw poll on Saturday at our local GOP which leans moderate (not me) had McCain in the lead with Mitt and Fred in 2nd and 3rd. Negligible for Rudy, none for the Huckster, none for Ron Paul.