Updates Map.

Rick Santorum now surging in the polls...Is he the next to flirt with front runner status. If so it could be timed almost right and he could pull off an upset in Iowa? Will Paul maintain the lead or will Romney seal the deal in the first contest.

This race is so fluid and all over the place that I have only taken the first two states and attempted to make predictions.

A scenario like this could result in a brokered convention...

Paul acts as a spoiler.

A scenario like this could result in a brokered convention...

Paul acts as a spoiler.

Romney wins the nomination by Super Tuesday...

Primaries after Super Tuesday remain a beauty contest with minor conservative candidates pulling less then 25%. All major candidates pull out after Super Tuesday when Romney is annointed the nominee by the media.

Perry wins social conservatives in Iowa. Bachmann immediately drops out and endorses Perry. Perry wins the social conservative vote going forward but cant seem to do well in blue states due to perceived social extremism and bad polling against Obama.

Romney stumbles a bit before New Hampshire with gaffes and charges against his record. Huntsman in a shocking upset beats Romney in New Hampshire by the closest of margins. A recount declares him the upset winner and instant media darling. Romney very embarrased immediately drops out of the race and after a brief hiatus endorses and campaigns with Huntsman solidifying mormon and moderate republican support. In addition to building a coalition of social moderates and fiscal blue state conservatives. Huntsman becomes the media favorite against Perry.

A two man race erupts with Ron Paul taking less support then he did in 2008. Rick Perry remains the assumed front runner while Huntsman is the media favorite. This remains until late in the primary when its apparent that Huntsman will be going to the convention with more delegates.

The convention is close but not brokered. With Jon Huntsman as the 2012 republican nominee !