Tactically, Pawlenty's mistakes are too numerous to count. But strategically, Pawlenty had the right idea: Be the most electable candidate to the right of Romney.

Gingrich is plainly the best Annoy the Media candidate. But it’s not at all clear, however much South Carolina Republicans would like to think so, that he’s the most electable.

On Saturday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry got into the race for the GOP presidential nomination, and within 24 hours, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty got out. Perry didn't exactly chase Pawlenty out of the race; the Iowa straw poll (in which T-Paw finished a distant third) did that. But the two developments are closely related. They're linked by the fact that Barack Obama is very beatable.

Even if Romney becomes the nominee, it’s difficult to exaggerate the significance of Santorum’s trifecta this week in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado.

With the different styles within the Republican party, the more outspoken versus the more substantial, we need a candidate which does both.

Despite claims that Republicans are facing a civil war between moderates and the Tea Party, the tea-party gale has swept through the GOP and all that stands between the tea parties and victory in November is the Democrats.

Hillary Clinton's recent victory in Ohio may prove that she is more electable than Senator Barack Obama.

There are 24 people who are beneficiaries of nontrivial presidential buzz, but only five are likely to emerge as true candidates.