Today’s required reading

With Mitt’s big win in Michigan last night, the touring clown show that is the Republican nomination process has been thrown into disarray. Bob Moser has a great piece in The Nation on the Romney campaign’s victory and the happy prospect that this mess will roll on straight to the convention (oh joy!).

For whatever bizarre alchemy of reasons, Romney passed his do-or-die test in Michigan. On Saturday in South Carolina, Huckabee will be on the hot spot--he's holding on to a slim lead over McCain there, with Romney not far behind. McCain needed the Michigan win to boost his South Carolina prospects, but Huckabee's once-rocketing campaign has stalled there as everywhere--and Romney has been running a strong third in the polls. If Huckabee gets his must-win in South Carolina, it will set up a criticical four-way battle in Florida on January 29. Rudy Giuliani desperately needs the state to position himself for Tsunami Tuesday on February 5, but he's tied in the polls with McCain, with Romney and Huckabee in striking distance.

Democrats might have blown off Michigan, but they're certainly getting some goodies from the state. Romney's win makes it all the more likely that the Republicans' indecision will stretch well beyond February 5--all the way to the national convention. It will make terrific theater. And it will ensure that the ultimate Republican nominee--whoever in the world it might be--enters the fall campaign with a divided and perplexed party behind him.

People, that is music to my ears.