Plugging

CNN just aired a piece on the GOP primary race slugged "Paul Keeps on Plugging."

You know, that wacky little Ron Paul with his little fanatical fan base and his little phenomenal fundraising operation - that Ron Paul - he's so plucky!

Interesting, though, that Rudy Giuliani, who has yet to win a single primary, and whose butt Paul has kicked twice so far, is never described in such a condescending fashion.

Giuliani, who placed sixth in Michigan (coming in behind everbody but Uncommitted) is enjoying a narrative today that everything is going according to plan.

The good news for Mr. Giuliani is that Mitt Romney’s victory leaves the Republican field unsettled – which is what he needs if his unconventional strategy of waiting until Florida on Jan. 29 to try to eke out his first victory is to work.

“It’s clear after tonight that while the race remains fluid and competitive, our strategy remains on track,” Tony Carbonetti, a senior adviser to Mr. Giuiani, said in a statement.

Why, over at FOX "News," Mayor 9/11 is even deemed a winner for his poor showing in Michigan.

Giuliani seemed upbeat after another day of large crowds in the Sunshine State, but he may have also been pleased by the results coming out of Michigan.

Yes, he did finish in sixth place, and again trailed Ron Paul as he did in Iowa. But, the campaign’s strategy is based on continuing chaos in the GOP field and with three different winners in the first three states, senior aides have found some hope to cling onto. They had been nervous about a McCain victory in MI and the associated momentum from two straight victories.

So, you see, even though Giuliani finished in sixth place behind that wacky, plucky, rolling-in-money little rock star Ron Paul, he has his competitors right where he wants them - with their boots on his neck.

Now, all Rudy has to do is lose again in South Carolina and Nevada before turning it all around with a big win in Florida, and a run of table on Super Duper Tuesday.

Or, not.

His standing in Florida has actually slipped. A Quinnipiac University poll released on Monday found the New Yorker in a virtual four-way tie for first place in the state's GOP primary, a far cry from his once-dominant status. A new Strategic Vision Poll, meanwhile, had Giuliani registering at 18 percent, two points behind Mike Huckabee and nine points behind McCain.

"The question is, has he lost so much ground by not being such a major player and can he make it up in Florida," said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University. "Given his strategy and his inability to gain more support in the other states, they are now trying to make the best of a bad situation."

White House, here he comes!

I'm really starting to wonder if there is anything worse than this year's political coverage.