The writing was on the wall for Mitt Romney.

I saw it coming last month just after Iowa's brutal showing. There were cracks in the machine. When he lost New Hampshire, I knew it was just a matter of time.

He's gone now, into the sunset with a trail of tears before him and loads of money floating gently in the breeze behind him.

In the end, all the money in the world couldn't save Romney's campaign. When you veer as sharply to the right as he did after a good eight years of public liberalism in the Massachussetts governor's mansion, don't expect too many people to buy your story. Sure, you'll get a few key people who want to believe, but it'll always be a tough sell.

With Romney out of the picture, it's not too difficult to see what's going on. Even if you throw all of Romney's delegates to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (and throw in Texas Congressman Ron Paul's for good measure), Arizona Sen. John McCain still leads the race 714-483. It's not impossible for Huckabee to make up that much ground, but it is unlikely.

Pat Buchanan made a good point on one of the news channels this morning (I was clicking so fast, I can't recall which one). He said Huckabee desperately wants to be vice-president, which explains why he's been so kind to McCain.

Intriguing. And, I believe, correct.

Such a union would put to rest all the pundit whining about McCain's conservatism. What can they say once an Evangelical Christian like Huckabee is on board? For people like commentator Ann Coulter, who has gone on record saying she will not only cast a ballot for Hillary, she'll actually work on her campaign if McCain gets the nomination, it will be time for her to call to the Clinton camp. That's one call I would pay a small fortune (if I had one) to hear.

The truth is, for all their rhetoric, the Coulters of the world will have, as Desi Arnez used to say "some 'splainin' to do" when the final bells are rung. Soon, the Republicans will have their nomination sewn up, and their ticket ready. Once that happens, look out, Hillary and Barack. The party that organizes first, launches first.