The Clock is Ticking and the Bell is Beginning to Toll

Here we are, just over 24 hours away from one of the most anticipated, debated, and celebrated announcements (as long as you are not one of the other Presidential contenders or supporters thereof) in recent memory and things are getting tight.

You may have already heard that FDT will be running an ad during the upcoming Republican Presidential debate in New Hampshire.  He won’t be participating since he will not be an official candidate at that time despite many who question that strategy, primarily his opponents.  FDT has been resolute in his declaration that he will not let other candidates or political pundits determine the timing or the conduct of his campaign.  But think of the stroke of genius that running an ad delivering whatever message you want to deliver while the rest of the crowd, only one of which has a slight lead over you as an unannounced candidate, is attempting to look Presidential even though the majority of America doesn’t think some of them really are.  Think of the stroke of genius that about an hour after the debates are over FDT will be appearing on Leno.  And think of the stroke of genius of announcing your candidacy on a webcast which will be available at midnight Wednesday for the entire world, including the press who is supposed to be writing about a debate, to see.

Imagine you are one of his opponents.  Here you have a guy who is not even in the race who is kicking your posterior quarters in every national poll and even most state polls.  Rudy Giuliani is the exception to the rule.  Most polls have him as #1 and FDT as #2 but the lead isn’t significant.  Once an announcement is made, I think you will see those positions change.

But put yourself in any of the other top four, McCain or Romney.  McCain’s fortunes have taken a considerable dip.  In many ways that is sad to see.  You have a guy like McCain who has given a lot in our country’s service but just can’t seem to keep pace in the Presidential race.  FDT is leading McCain in his own state of Arizona.

Then you have Romney who has spent millions of dollars on his campaign, including a boatload of his own money, only to find out that most of America doesn’t know he won the Iowa straw poll (or that no other major candidate participated) and that 44% of America says they wouldn’t vote for him no matter who the Democrat candidate is (see the next paragraph).  I’ll give it to Mitt though; he continues to soldier on hoping to win New Hampshire, a neighboring state to his own Massachusetts where he should be leading the rest of the pack by 30 points or better…which he is not.  The story in New Hampshire won’t be that Romney wins, that should be expected.  The real story will be if Romney doesn’t win big or, gasp, loses New Hampshire.

As mentioned earlier, how big a blow is it to find that a large number don’t intend to vote for you no matter what? Rasmussen reports that “Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has finally surpassed New York Senator Hillary Clinton in the polls. Unfortunately for Romney, it’s a poll measuring the number of people committing to vote against him.”  Romney has to be saying to himself, “Give me some good news!!!”

I hope the others in Wednesday night’s debate don’t let the shadow of the 800 pound gorilla scare them.  Well, maybe I do a little.