Politics: The Calculus Behind the Race to Tampa

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Politics The Calculus Behind the Race to Tampa How the GOP's complex delegate math proves that Romney is further ahead than he looks. By John Dickerson Posted Saturday, Mar 10, 2012, at 12:58 AM ET When they hand out the bunting, funny hats, and elephant pins at Republican Party headquarters, no one talks about the math test. For the next several weeks and perhaps months, GOP politics are going to center around a complex debate about delegates that will remind us all of those math problems you hated in grade school: If Rick leaves Philadelphia headed for Tampa on a train powered by coal his grandfather mined and Mitt drives his Mustang to the same destination, how many attacks on the elite media will it take Newt to stop them? All campaigns are spinning the delegate math to their advantage. Mitt Romney's team is arguing that his opponents cannot win enough delegates to overtake Romney's delegate lead. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are arguing that they have a shot at accumulating enough delegates to surpass the weak front-runner and steal the nomination. Both sides are spinning fantasies, but as might be expected, Romney's fantasy is closer to reality. He is offering something closer to historical fiction whereas Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich's tales are more like science fiction. To understand what's going on, it's best to think of two dramas, one that takes place in the primaries and caucuses to come and one that takes place at the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla. First Drama: It's almost impossible for Mitt Romney's rivals to catch him This is a hard truth for Santorum and Gingrich supporters, but independent ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate GOP Voters Describe All the Things They Dislike About the Candidate They Voted For Poll: Most Alabama Republicans Doubt Evolution and Obama's Christianity I Am So Ashamed That I Can't Stop Watching Hoarders	Advertisement
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