When did Romney become inevitable?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

In hindsight, I have to say it'd be when Perry collapsed.

Perry was the only other somewhat serious candidate running. Once it became clear how much of a stupid joke he was the anti-Romneys went scrambling, and they initially settled on Herman Cain as their standard bearer. I have to say that says it all. At that point Romney was the nominee by default.

[Harry Hayfield]

Romney became inevitable when everyone bar Santorum and Paul refused to drop out after Iowa.

[The Mikado]

Romney became inevitable when everyone bar Santorum and Paul refused to drop out after Iowa.

That just guaranteed that the race would be over by Florida.  By Iowa, even if that had happened, all it would mean is that Santorum would rack up a few wins in the South and drag out the process a bit while Mitt followed the McCain 2008 approach and took all the delegates in the North.

[Lief 🗽]

Technically it would be in November or whenever when Christie said he wouldn't run and endorsed Mitt. After that there was realistically little chance.

Also Mikado is right that even if things had gone much better in the early going for an anti-Romney candidate, Mittens would have won in the end (though it would have taken a lot longer than McCain's win did).

[RogueBeaver]

Apart from the month-long Perry honeymoon, Mittens was always inevitable.

[RI]

When Huckabee, Christie, Daniels, and every other candidate worth a damn refused to run.

[Lupo]

A little before Iowa.  Gingrich was his only threat. 

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Yup, the moment all viable "non-crazy-people" decided not to run. The GOP establishment would NEVER allow any of the others to be the nominee to be set up for a slaughter by Obama.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

probably when Newt declared himself the nominee

[retromike22]

"Oops"

["'Oeps!' De blunders van Rick Perry Indicted"]

Yes, September 22 - the night this happened. It's been overshadowed by other miscues in later debates (like the one alluded to in my screen name) but that evening was actually the turning point.

[J. J.]

Possibly Saturday.

[Mehmentum]

When he effictively tied Santorum in Iowa.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Newt's summer implosion...denied him the organization he needed to capitalize on his later surge

[Bull Moose Base]

"Oops"

Probably.  Perry had already collapsed by the time oops happened, but without it, he may have been poised to benefit instead of Santorum when Newt was knocked down.

Don't lose heart though.  If there was ever a candidate who could look inevitable post-NH, and still not pull cruise to victory, it's Mitt Romney 2012.  Today is the first anniversary of my prediction Romney would be the first candidate to win IA and NH, then not win the nomination.  (Though I guess it'll get an asterisk if Santorum is certified Iowa winner.)  For months, I was the lone voice saying Romney sweeping IA and NH didn't end it.  I think he'll still struggle to win, even if he ultimately does.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

When stronger candidates (Daniels, Huckabee or Christie) declined to run.

[memphis]

He's still not. If Santorum and Gingrich can get together and make a corrupt bargain where one is the nominee and the other gets a plum job or whatever, Mittens is still quite stoppable. But not with a split nutter vote.

[patrick1]

Yup, the moment all viable "non-crazy-people" decided not to run. The GOP establishment would NEVER allow any of the others to be the nominee to be set up for a slaughter by Obama.

This is my view as well.  I always viewed this as a fait accompli and all the coverage of these flavors of the month rather farcical. 

I'm still a registered R, I doubt anyone will be still be running by the time of the NY primary.