Well, the race for the 2012 GOP nomination is over – thanks for reading!
Seriously, Mitt Romney was always the front-runner, but couldn't this race remain competitive until Florida's primary at the end of the month? That's looking doubtful now, with the "Massachusetts moderate" as Newt Gingrich would say currently leading in South Carolina, the next Republican primary state.
What about Ron Paul? Or, as we ask this morning, what about Ron Paul's supporters? The Texas Congressman had another strong finish last night, but even he seems to not believe he'll be the nominee.
Yesterday was the first day of the 2012 legislative session in Tallahassee. Hours after Rick Scott gave his State of the State address, protesters around Florida held rallies against the Scott agenda, including in Tampa last night.
And Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn spoke before the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce yesterday. In the wake of the closing of Club Empire late last year, the mayor warned other businesses in the district to watch themselves.
This article appears in Jan 5-11, 2012.