Objectively Unfit Mitt Romney’s Campaign ‘at Death’s Door’? Doubtful

I surely don’t think so, though you will currently see that claim near the top of the home page at Human Events Online:

Romney Campaign at Death’s Door

For many Republicans, Romney was simply the “electable conservative.” Once he lost to Huckabee, that title vanished.

Here’s the detail at the underlying Evans-Novak’s Political Report:

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Romney’s second loss puts his well-financed campaign at death’s door.

1. Romney’s core tactic in New Hampshire of attacking McCain on immigration fell flat partly because McCain reduced the issue to a squabble over the definition of “amnesty.” Also, the negativity seemed to hurt him here as it did in Iowa. Finally, as a well-off corporate raider, it’s hard for voters to believe Romney really cares about the issue. It comes across as opportunistic and purely political. Immigration has not proved a winning issue in recent years.
2. Iowa doesn’t determine New Hampshire, but this time it certainly had an effect. For many Republicans, Romney was simply the “electable conservative.” Once he lost to Huckabee, that title vanished. Also, Huckabee’s attacks on Romney were effective. Finally, Iowa emboldened the other Republicans in Saturday night’s debate, and he looked bad.
3. While Romney can dig into his own massive fortunes to stay alive, it’s hard to imagine where he can win if he can’t win in two states where he has spent huge amounts of money and time. The voters who know him best — including those in his neighboring state of New Hampshire — aren’t quite sold on him.
4. On the upside, Romney leads in the delegate chase, and his two second-place finishes were convincingly ahead of the third place finishers. Still, a loss in Michigan probably ends his run.

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I think Bob Novak’s assessment of Objectively Unfit Mitt’s situation is way too pessimistic. Though it would be nice if I felt otherwise, I believe that a string of “decent” second-place showings leading up to Super Tuesday would preserve Romney’s viability (it all depends, of course, on what you mean by “decent’). Winning Super Tuesday will involve fighting an expensive air war instead of a retail ground war. Romney, if he opens the purse strings, is in much better financial shape to do that than the other major candidates.

Still, Novak’s take is a refreshing alternative to the sky-is-not-falling mantra at Hewitt’s place, which isn’t even worth linking to today. I mean, which sugar-coated pile-of-manure post would you pick? Besides, Hugh got all uptight over my use of the word “objectively” on the day of “The Speech” and didn’t link back, so I’m not exactly carrying a lot of guilt.