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Romney's Chances

      Most Recent 2008 Polls Delegate Split
2/5 State Delegates Winner Take All McCain Romney Huckabee McCain Romney Huckabee
Alabama 48   40 21 31 21 11 16
Alaska 29   45 35 20 13 10 6
Arizona 53 Winner Take All 43 34 9 53    
Arkansas 34   20 35 45 7 12 15
California 173   32 40 12 66 82 25
Colorado 46   45 35 20 21 16 9
Connecticut 30 Winner Take All 53 31 6 30    
Delaware 18 Winner Take All 45 35 20 18    
Georgia 72   31 29 26 26 24 22
Illinois 70   43 20 15 39 18 13
Massachusetts 43   34 57 3 16 26 1
Minnesota 41   45 35 20 18 14 8
Missouri 58 Winner Take All 35 24 27 58    
Montana 25 Winner Take All 45 35 20   25  
New Jersey 52 Winner Take All 45 35 20 52    
New York 101 Winner Take All 53 19 8 101    
North Dakota 26   45 35 20 12 9 5
Oklahoma 41   45 35 20 18 14 8
Tennessee 55   32 22 30 21 14 20
Utah 36 Winner Take All 45 35 20   36  
West Virginia 30   45 35 20 14 11 6
Total 1081         604 322 154
Delegates Already Won       97 92 29
Total Delegates after 2/5         701 414 183

*In states where recent poll data was not available, I assumed McCain gets 45%, Romney 35%, and Huckabee 20%...that should be a little conservative from Romney's perspective.   
**Under this scenario, 2/5 effectively eliminates Huckabee from the race whether he drops out or not since he will now require all remaining 1,008 delegates in order to reach the magic number of 1,191 needed to secure the nomination.  Huckabee is clearly not in this for the win...I wish his supporters could see it this way. 

***Noteworthy is that 369 of McCain's delegates (129% of his lead over Romney) are from winner-take-all states...which just doesn't seem right. 


The table below shows what Romney must do for victory if the likely scenario above plays out on 2/5.  Essentially - Romney must win the three remaining winner-take-all states AND he must beat McCain by an average margin of 63.38% to 36.62% in the other states.  That is how Romney can reach the magic number of 1,191 delegates.  This isn't pretty, but (given the opposition to McCain in the GOP) this isn't out of reach for Romney.   Huckabee's chances are...well, let's just say much, much smaller than Romney's chances.    Huckabee is certainly not in the race to win...which will be even more obvious if he does not drop out on February 6. 


Romney's post-2/5 path to Victory - This isn't pretty, but it isn't out-of reach
        Polls Delegate Split
  Post 2/5 States     McCain Romney McCain Romney
9-Feb Louisiana 47 36.62 63.38 17 37
9-Feb Washington 40 36.62 63.38 15 32
9-Feb Kansas 39 36.62 63.38 14 32
12-Feb Virginia 63 Winner Take All 36.62 63.38   63
12-Feb Maryland 37 36.62 63.38 14 30
12-Feb District of Columbia 19 Winner Take All 36.62 63.38   19
19-Feb Wisconsin 40 36.62 63.38 15 32
4-Mar Texas 140 36.62 63.38 51 78
4-Mar Ohio 88 36.62 63.38 32 58
4-Mar Rhode Island 20 36.62 63.38 7 18
4-Mar Vermont 17 Winner Take All 36.62 63.38   17
10-Mar Mississippi 39 36.62 63.38 14 32
22-Apr Pennsylvania 74 36.62 63.38 27 52
6-May North Carolina 69 36.62 63.38 25 49
6-May Indiana 57 36.62 63.38 21 43
13-May Nebraska 33 36.62 63.38 12 28
16-May Hawaii 20 36.62 63.38 7 18
20-May Kentucky 45 36.62 63.38 16 36
20-May Oregon 30 36.62 63.38 11 26
27-May Idaho 32 36.62 63.38 12 27
3-Jun New Mexico 32 36.62 63.38 12 27
3-Jun South Dakota 27 36.62 63.38 10 23
  Total 1008       332 777
  Delegates Already Won 701 414
  Total Delegates after 2/5       1033 1191



Observations: 

In the analysis above, I assumed McCain takes Missouri.  Romney can lighten his post-February-5 workload with a win in Missouri.  Right now that doesn't look too promising.  

Under the scenario above, I am almost certain Huckabee drops out on 2/6 and endorses McCain.  Huckabee's delegates (from what I understand) follow his endorsement and go to McCain.   That scenario would put McCain only 307 delegates from the nomination and make Romney's job post-February-5 that much more difficult since Romney would now need to edge out McCain by slightly higher margins in all remaining post-February-5 states to prevent a McCain victory.

I hope conservatives (especially in Missouri) who are considering voting for Huckabee on 2/5 really think this through.  McCain isn't the choice of a true conservative.          

UPDATE:  The Massachusetts polls were originally shown incorrectly with McCain at 57% and Romney at 34%.  The reverse is true.  This was corrected immediately. 

UPDATE II:  Delaware & New Jersey are winner-take-all states.  Arkansas is not...but Huckabee is favored to win Arkansas.  The tables have been modified to reflect these updates. 
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