And then there were four . . .

In my blog last night, ("Rick Perry's cowboy show bombs"), I offered the parting advice to Perry:  "Go home, cowboy."

Then this morning came the surprise announcement that Perry is withdrawing from the race and endorsing Newt Gingrich.

What does this do to the race -- what with the other big news that the Iowa recount shows Santorum now with more votes than Romney and with Newt surging in the S. C. polls?

It will probably add a few votes to Newt's total, but Perry's voters will likely split between Newt and Santorum.  Newt's own surge following the last debate (with another to go tonight) is likely a more significant factor.   Newt seems to keep coming back, like the cat with nine lives -- only to slide down again as people remember why they don't like him or he says something else outrageous.

But what if ABC does release the interview with Wife #2 before the primary?   Will that have much effect?   Leaks include her description of his asking her for an open marriage so he could continue his affair with Callista and remain married to Marianne.  And we know from the interview she gave to Esquire in 2010 that she said he has no integrity and that he claimed that what he did in his private life had no bearing on his political message.

Newt has already countered all his bad behavior by playing the "repentant sinner" card;  and we know how much the evangelical base love their leaders to be reformed bad boys.

Romney will probably still take S. C., but it's going to be much closer than it seemed just a few days ago.   And it will probably allow Newt to keep going and prolong the primary.  Then, assuming that Santorum drops out after this one, the anti-Romney vote will be split only with Ron Paul.

All of this is good news for the Democrats.   Newt and Mitt will have to keep attacking each other -- and every jab at the eventual nominee is just doing the work for Obama's team.   And the longer the internal battling goes on, the more money is absorbed in their primary and the more more roughed up the winner emerges.

Still, there is the upside for the Repubs -- airing all the dirty laundry now tends to immunize the issues for later;  and it makes Romney a better competitor.

So . . . the fat lady hasn't sung yet.

Ralph