Romney’s faltering first step towards the nomination

Mitt Romney’s victory by eight votes in Iowa is hardly a ringing endorsement of his candidacy. But, I suspect, he will be the nominee.

The real danger for Romney was a repeat of his 2008 failure in Iowa. He has avoided that. He now heads for New Hampshire where he has a massive poll lead. A commanding victory there will give him the big mo to get through South Carolina, an inhospitable state for him, and head into Florida, a banker for him, in a strong position.

Rick Santorum, who broke from the back of pack at just the right moment and came so close to upsetting Romney, will now be subject to the scrutiny befitting a top tier candidate. This process will dent his support. The Ron Paul campaign are already accusing him of being a Senate moderate and a big government conservative, two dogs that hunt in today’s Republican party.