(h/t David)
The delegate math makes Romney all but inevitable. Truly the only benefit for any of the other candidates to stay in the race is to hurt Romney, unless they're deluded enough to truly believe that any one them could win 100 percent of the rest of the primaries and caucuses. And I fully stipulate that it is entirely possible that they are that deluded.
However, Rick Santorum said something surprisingly sensible for someone still running despite being completely, mathematically out of contention. He told voters that they might as well vote for Obama.
According to NBC News, speaking in Texas, Santorum told the crowd:
“You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there. If you’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch-A-Sketch candidate of the future.”
Santorum tried lamely to walk back the statement, but really, it's too late. It's out there, waiting for some Democratic superpac to use it in the general. But good news for the Santorum kids, Ohio Art is so grateful to Santorum and Gingrich for evoking the Etch-A-Sketch when referring to Romney, that they're sending both candidates a box of Etch-A-Sketches for use through the end of their pointless race.
When the history chapters of this election are written, it will be that child's toy that we can point to as ending Romney's chances.
