It is only fitting that the mudslinging now coming out of the Mitt Romney camp is occurring here in Florida. When it comes to dirty politics, the Sunshine State stands in a class all it’s own.

After Newt Gingrich’s overwhelming victory in the S.C. primary and subsequent surge in the polls, a real sense of desperation set in for Romney.

Desperation that manifests itself in the aggressive demeanor he’s taken on and in the negative campaign ads that have inundated the airwaves in Florida.

Such as the ad that falsely claims that Gingrich “resigned in disgrace” which Romney is still running and even had aired during last night’s CNN debate. A claim that none other than Charles Krauthammer himself has stated is not accurate.

Although, were you to ask Mitt Romney about this ad, odds are you will get feigned ignorance. A bothersome trend from the former Governor, whether you’re asking about sleazy campaign ads or Swiss bank accounts, is for him to deny knowledge and divert the responsibility to others.

Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures and fortunately for Romney, his chief campaign strategist and several of his most senior campaign staff were Charlie Crist’s top political advisers who are ever so familiar with the political turf here in Florida.

And this ‘win at whatever cost’ approach now seen coming from the Romney camp is eerily reminiscent of good ol’ Charlie, leaving one to wonder if this is driven by the sense of entitlement that seems to be inherent in the political class, a.k.a. the establishment?

And make no mistake about it, the ‘establishment’ is fully behind Mitt Romney, as evidenced by the likes of John McCain and Connie Mack IV out stumping on his behalf. Individuals who are always quick to rail against the very system they have become an embodiment of.

In truth, McCain’s appearance signals something far more sinister. Mitt Romney has not put forth much effort to court tea party support, much like Crist’s moderate, ignore-the-tea-party strategy. Which makes sense considering the same individuals are behind both campaigns.

As we often see in both Washington and Tallahassee, the political class is first and foremost about outmaneuvering it’s opponents and the tea party needs to understand that the moderate wing of the GOP sees it as much of an opponent as it does the Democrats. Perhaps more so, since both parties share a common benefit from a continuation of the status quo.

And if Mitt Romney can secure the nomination without so much as crossing the street for the tea party, it will serve the dual purpose of ensuring the establishment retains control with ‘their guy’ and will go a very long way toward suppressing the rightward shift of the party brought on by the tea party.

Yes, the GOP presidential primary comes down to the moderate wing versus the conservative wing of the party – the establishment vs. the tea party.

With Newt Gingrich, in all his glory, representing the conservative tea party position.

In reality, this has been a two man race for some time now. Rick Santorum is reportedly pulling up stakes on Sunday and returning home two days before voting takes place. Simply put, he just doesn’t have the resources to compete in an expensive state like Florida where it’s winner take all.

Much like former Gov. Sarah Palin, who wants to see the nomination process continue to play out, Santorum supporters AND the tea party movement in Florida must see the long term effects of a Romney win. If he prevails here, the race is all but over.

A vote for Newt Gingrich ensures a continuation of this process and all parties involved live to fight another day.

One thing is clear, with Romney as the Republican nominee, the tea party may as well pack up and go home – it will have zero influence in his organization.

The moderate wing of the party is counting on the political immaturity of the tea party to prevail, the fierce independence of the many groups to prevent it from seeing the long term strategy playing out.

What is really encouraging here is that just as it has been from the very beginning, the people have it within their power to control the outcome. The question is do we choose to exercise this power.

Cross Posted at Florida Political Press

A scary thought struck me this week- we are already in primary season. As of yet, the Republican Party can’t seem to find a candidate who has the ability to inspire both the base and Independents alike. I believe they are desperately seeking a Reagan but, sadly, Reagan is dead and the current candidates don’t look too good themselves.

Republican and conservative voters want a candidate we can believe in, someone who will blow us off our feet and blow the competition away. Where is the candidate who rallies the base and, like Gandalf on the bridge of Khazad-dûm, tells the Obama machine “Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass”?

Let’s be honest, Herman Cain was a fiasco. We were hoping for a Godfather but got a playa instead. What is most frustrating about the situation, though, is that Cain had some innovative ideas and was able to articulate with passion. Now his economic proposals will be discounted in light of his (allegedly) atrocious treatment of women.

Of those candidates left, only four can realistically win the nomination at the end of the primary season, but no one is celebrating yet. Each candidate is solid and proven, but none are lighting any fires in the party’s faithful. Why not?

To start with, Romney has all the thrill of a glass of buttermilk. Sure it’s rich and has beneficial qualities, but who wants to guzzle it down and instantly demand another? On the other hand, we are told that Gingrich too much baggage.

Baggage? Baggage? We don’t need no stinking baggage.

Actually, Newt is like a lit firecracker. You know it’s going to go off in a spectacular display but no one is sure where the explosion will take place and how destructive it will be.

The other two are from Texas, which says a lot. We’re told that everything is bigger in Texas, but Perry’s campaign seemed to have missed the memo. When Perry entered the race, he was sitting tall in the saddle. Unfortunately, voters soon discovered that saddle was on a Shetland Pony.

And then there’s Ron Paul. In 2008 I voted for Paul in the N.C. primary even though McCain had already won the nomination. This year I’m not so certain. Paul increasingly reminds me of Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation- he means well and can be devastating in his critiques, but every time he speaks you have to hold your breath for fear of what he might say.

So here we are in late December. What can be done with only two weeks left?

I am of the opinion that only two of the final four have the potential to become the candidate we can passionately support. Those two are Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. Why not Gingrich or Paul? For very similar reasons.

Gingrich has the propensity to speak without thinking, believing that his erudition will overcome any final objection. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. For Paul, the Libertarian nature of his words will hamstring him. I can imagine Obama facing Paul in a debate and bring up Paul’s stance on ending, or at least auditing, the Fed. Obama would only have to say that ending the Fed would disenfranchise minority voters, eliminate jobs, hinder a child’s education, destroy the environment or any of his other standard objections to reason, and Paul would be finished.

So we are left with Romney and Perry, but not really. Perry’s freezing in a debate was his undoing. Certainly he recovered well, but what Republican thinks that a good showing on David Letterman is something to get excited about? I don’t.

Therefore, the GOP’s hopes appear to rest solely on Romney. He has been groomed for this, he has the look (and the hair!), he knows the issues and has the business experience needed in a down economy. What he needs to do is unleash some passion- un-tuck the Oxford, mess up the perfectly coiffed “do” and raise his voice a little. Not to the Howard Dean level of screeching, mind you, but some volume changes and body movements wouldn’t hurt.

Mitt can handle himself in a debate. He knows the issues and is able to lead. All that remains now is excite the voters. Mitt, you can do it! Come on baby, light our fire.