Lessons of NH
Here are some wrapups:
There had been little doubt that Mr. Romney would win the first primary here, in a state in his back yard and one in which he's unofficially campaigned nonstop since a disappointing loss hobbled his presidential bid four years ago. But the size of his winning margin, seen as a test of whether he would go limping or charging into the next primaries in South Carolina and Florida, reaffirmed his status as the front-runner in the race.
And David Shribman, who says Romney could be a tepid frontrunner for two reasons:
The first is the weakness of the frontrunner, who for the second week in a row drew about the same portion of the vote as he did four years earlier against a tougher, more diverse and overall more interesting field of rivals.
The second is the profound introspection these Republicans set in motion, unusual in any party but without precedent in the Republican Party perhaps since 1912, about the character of capitalism. For nearly a week, Mr. Romney's record as a crusading consultant rushing in to salvage profits amid corporate wreckage was at the center of the Republican debate, though not remotely the way the former Bain Capital chief, who has relentlessly portrayed himself as a business savior rather than a job wrecker, had intended. From all corners of a party that once was considered the curator of capitalism came an assault on Mr. Romney and important questions about the human costs of corporate restructuring and the moral consequences of bottom-line success and CEO compensation.
NYT: Results show Romney's strength and the big test facing others in South CarolinaThe Atlantic: Ron Paul did better than expected.
The Hill: Romney leads in every category (wins, polls, money) and could wrap this up quickly.
FWIW, Santorum was still at 5th place behind Gingrich by 143 votes with 2% of the vote still out there.