Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (and, for that matter, Texas Congressman Ron Paul) may not accept- nor even especially like- this statement: but the contest for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is (absent something completely bizarre and "out of left field" we cannot at all well foresee at this typing) now truly a two-man race.

Moreover, it is a race much like the late laps of a long-duration auto race- say, the Indy 500 or even Daytona (and, after all, whom amongst us does not like NASCAR? [;-)])- in which the current leader of the race has just pitted for, seemingly, the last time (thus: he, most likely, has enough fuel to win) and we’re all waiting- lap after lap as the number of ….

So far, this has been the week that was as follows:

On Sunday 18 March, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won all 20 Republican National Convention delegates up for grabs in the Presidential Primary on Puerto Rico. Two days later (Tuesday 20 March), Romney won a decisive victory in Illinois over former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and collected another 42 such delegates (to Santorum’s 12), giving him a net +50 in National Convention delegates relative to the Pennsylvanian and allowing him to put even more distance between himself and the Republican presidential contender who has emerged as his chief rival for this year’s presidential nomination of that Party.

Now all eyes turn to Louisiana this coming Saturday (24 March) to see if Rick Santorum can gain at least some of this "distance" back (only 20 of the Pelican State’s 46 GOP National Convention delegates are awarded as a result of this weekend’s Presidential Primary but …

polls are open from 6 AM to 7 PM local time [1100 to 0000 GMT]

NOTE: This is an ‘Open’ Primary: Illinois does not require prior declarations of party affiliation as a pre-requisite to participating in its Primary Elections.

Republicans: 54 delegates from Illinois to the Republican National Convention will be directly elected in the Illinois Republican Presidential Primary. NOTE: The REPUBLICAN Presidential Primary in ILLINOIS is a so-called “Loophole” primary (a Delegate Selection Primary combined with an Advisory [aka "beauty contest"] presidential preference vote). The popular vote in the preference portion of the Illinois Republican Presidential Primary ballot will have nothing whatsoever to do with the support for presidential contenders among the Republican National Convention delegates separately elected in this Primary.

Democrats: 189 of Illinois’ delegates to the Democratic National Convention are pledged to presidential contenders based on the results of the voting in the Illinois Democratic Presidential Primary.

State Primary: Concomitant with its Presidential Primaries, ILLINOIS is also holding Primaries for nominations to its seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the terms beginning at Noon on 3 January 2013. (There are other Primaries “down-ballot” throughout the State but nominations for the above Federal elective offices are the only ones covered by ‘The Green Papers’)

Puerto Rico Republican (18 March primary): Romney 22 (includes 2 unbound delegates not tied to the primary), Gingrich 1 (1 unbound delegate not tied to the primary).

TheGreenPapers maintains 2 delegate tallies: The soft count and the hard count. The “soft count” reflects the support for each presidential contender by either Pledged or Unpledged delegates- whether formally allocated yet or not- as best can be estimated by “The Green Papers”.The “hard count” consists of a count of the National Convention delegates as they are formally allocated to presidential contenders (or to the ranks of the “Uncommitted”) under the rules governing the selection of such delegates in each state or other jurisdiction.

Republican Soft delegate count: Romney 513, Santorum 239, Gingrich 159, Paul 78, Uncommitted 5. Needed to nominate 1,144.
Hard delegate count: Romney 404, Uncommitted 265, Santorum 171, Gingrich 135, Paul 26, Huntsman 2. Needed to nominate 1,144.

Republican Hard and Soft Count Delegate Summary.

2012 Presidential Primaries at a Glance.

Chronological Cumulative Allocation of Delegates. States representing 46.89% of the National Convention Republican Delegates have now begun their process.

Every February 29th, it’s okay for a woman to buck convention and propose marriage to the man of her choice. (In fact, there was a movie, Leap Year, built around this whole tradition!)

You may be thinking, “Hey, it’s the 21st century, and a woman can do what she wants.” But hold on… a while ago, the rules of dating here a lot stricter. A woman had to wait, and hope, that the man she loved would one day ask for her hand in marriage.

However, along came St. Bridget in 5th century Ireland. She heard the complaints of all the women who were tired of waiting for their man to pop the question. So, according to legend, she told St. Patrick about their plight, and he decided that the ladies could take matters into their own hands and propose to the men… every four years on Leap Day.

Leap Day Fun Facts:

• In 1288, Scotland passed a law allowing women to pop the question on Leap Day. Any man who declined their proposal had to pay a fine. Fines ranged from a kiss to buying the spurned lady a silk dress.
• An old Greek superstition claims that couples who marry during a leap year will have bad luck. Today, one in five engaged Greek couples still avoid setting a wedding date during a leap year.
• Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year. Of those years, if it can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless the year is divisible by 400. Therefore, the longest time between two leap years is eight years. The last time that occurred was between 1896 and 1904. The next time will be between 2096 and 2104.
• Leap years are needed to keep our calendar aligned with the earth’s revolutions around the sun. Every year is technically 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. (Yeah, figured that one out myself!)
• The idea of a Leap Year was first introduced by King Ptolemy III of Egypt in 238 BC.
• In ancient time, they used lunar (moon) calendars with 12 months a year. To align the calendar with the seasons, a 13th month was inserted as a “leap month” every two or three years. Many countries, especially in Asia, still use such calendars.
• The US Presidential elections are held during Leap Years.
• There is an actual “Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies” dedicated to promoting awareness of leap year baby issues.
• Siblings Olav, Heidi and Lief-Martin of Norway were born on consecutive Leap Year Days! (Now that’s what I called serious family planning!)
• Dinah Shore was born on Leap Day, 1916. Rapper Ja Rule was born the same day, 1976.

Quote of the Day: “Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.” ~ Charles Richards

Deep Thought of the Day: Does Leap Year mean that all salaried employees work one extra day for free?

Incoming search terms:

• Is the Presidential Elections always in a Leap Year

Hawaii Republican (13 March caucus projected): Romney 10, Santorum 5, Paul 2.

Republican Soft delegate count: Romney 493, Santorum 235, Gingrich 157, Paul 77, Uncommitted 5. Needed to nominate 1,144.

33 changes to the candidate list

California: Senate Class 1: Mike Strimling (Democratic) – added. House CD 6: Joseph McCray, Sr. (Republican) – added. House CD 16: Mark Garcia (Republican) – added.

Florida: House CD 10: Congressman Daniel "Dan" Webster (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 8.

Georgia: House CD 7: Nelson "Bear" Perras (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 9: Clifton McDuffie (Republican) – added.

Maine: Senate Class 1: former Governor John Baldacci (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate; Margaret Byrnes (Republican) – added; Karen Carringer (Republican) – added; Glen Craig (Republican) – added; Andrew Ian Dodge (Libertarian) – previously listed as Independent; state Representative Jon Hinck (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 1; Seamus Maguire (Independent) – added; Robert Seeley (Republican) – added; Michael Stoddard (Republican) – added.

Massachusetts: Senate Class 1: Eno Mondésir (Democratic) – added.

New York: House CD 18: Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 22. House CD 21: Matthew A. "Matt" Doheny (Republican, Independence) – previously listed as Republican. House CD 23: Leslie Danks Burke (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 22; Dan Lamb (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 22; Congressman Thomas W. "Tom" Reed, II (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 29; Tompkins County Legislature Nathan I. "Nate" Shinagawa (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 22. House CD 24: Congressman Ann Marie Buerkle (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 25. House CD 25: Andrew Michael Decker (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 28; Congressman Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 28. House CD 26: Congressman Brian M. Higgins (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 27. House CD 27: David Gregory Bellavia (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 26; Congressman Kathleen Courtney "Kathy" Hochul (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 26.

Oregon: House CD 1: Steven Cody Reynolds (Progressive, Pacific Green) – previously listed as Progressive; H. Joe Tabor (Libertarian) – added. House CD 3: Woody Broadnax (Pacific Green) – added.

South Carolina: House CD 7: Harry Pavilack (Democratic) – added.

Virginia: House CD 7: Floyd Bane (Republican) – added.

Incoming search terms:

• nathan shinagawa congress

Incoming search terms:

• northern mariana islands

All 40 of Kansas’ delegates to the Republican National Convention are allocated to presidential contenders based on the results of Precinct Caucuses which begin at 10 AM Central Standard Time [1500 GMT].

KANSAS Republican Caucus LOCATIONS from an official source.

GUAM REPUBLICAN CAUCUS/CONVENTION

Due to the time difference [GUAM is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Time US (10 hours ahead of GMT)], this event will already be in process by the time this note is posted.

A Territorial Caucus is meeting as a Convention to choose 9 delegates (6 unbound delegates plus 3 RNC unbound delegates) to the Republican National Convention.

Results– Guam Republican: Soft count: Romney 9. Hard count: Uncommitted 9 (the delegates are technically unpledged).

NORTHERN MARIANAS REPUBLICAN CAUCUS/PARTY-RUN PRIMARY

Due to the time difference [the COMMONWEALTH of the NORTHERN MARIANAS is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Time US (10 hours ahead of GMT)], this event will already be in process by the time this note is posted.

6 of the Northern Marianas’ 9 delegates to the Republican National Convention are chosen in today’s Commonwealth Republican Caucus. Voting in this Party-run primary is open to all registered Republicans: the polling will end at 7 PM local time [4 AM Eastern Time US (0900 GMT)]. The voters will have chosen the 6 National Convention delegates.

VIRGIN ISLANDS REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

Territorial Caucuses meet from Noon to 6 PM Atlantic Standard Time [1600 to 2200 GMT] on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as a Convention to choose 6 delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Incoming search terms:

• Gop Kansas polls for 2012
• gop results for saturday march 10 2012
• kansas & US virgin islands caucases
• KANSAS PRIMARY POLLS 2012 MARCH 10
• march 10 2012 results guam republican
• Pre Kansas Caucus 2012 polls
• us virgin islands caucuses
• us virgin islands caucuses 2012

Florida: Senate Class 1: Joshua "Josue" Larose (Republican) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 3: Jacques Rene "J. R." Gaillot (Democratic) – added. House CD 9: Miguel A. Nieves (No Party Affiliation) – added. House CD 11: Thomas Clark "Tommy" Castellano (No Party Affiliation) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 27: Roberto Sanchez (No Party Affiliation) – added.

Minnesota: Senate Class 1: state Representative Kurt Bills (Republican) – added.

Missouri: Governor: Jim Higgins (Libertarian) – added; Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon (Democratic) – added. House CD 2: Anatol Zorikova (Constitution) – added. House CD 4: Herschel L. Young (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 5: Ron Paul Shawd (Republican) – added. House CD 7: Jim Evans (Democratic) – added. Secretary of State: Rabbi Alam (Democratic) – added. Attorney General: Attorney General Chris Koster (Democratic) – added as candidate. Treasurer: Treasurer Clint Zweifel (Democratic) – added as candidate.

Montana: Governor: state Senator Larry Jent (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate; Roy Morton (Republican) – added.

New York: House CD 9: Sylvia G. Kinard (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 11.

South Carolina: Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor James Ken "Ken" Ard (Republican) resigned on 9 March 2012 after pleading guilty to 4 counts of unlawful reimbursement of campaign contributions, 2 counts of filing false campaign reports, and 1 count of personal use of campaign funds. He was first elected in 2010. Per the state constitution, state Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn F. McConnell (Republican) ascends to the office Lieutenant Governor.

Texas: Senate Class 1: Daniel Curtis "Dan" Boone (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate; Robert Butler (Libertarian) – added; retired State Appeals Court Judge Charles Holcomb (Republican) – apparently not a candidate; John A. Lee (Republican) – apparently not a candidate; John Jay Myers (Libertarian) – added; S. Gopal Raju (Libertarian) – added. House CD 2: Kenneth Duncan (Libertarian) – added. House CD 4: Steve Clark (Republican) – added; John Ray "Johnny" Cooper (Republican) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 6: Itamar Gelbman (Republican) – Pending; Brianna Hinojosa-Flores (Democratic) – added. House CD 7: William F. "Bill" Tofte (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 34. House CD 8: Harold Thomas (Republican) – added. House CD 11: Marven Wade "Wade" Brown (Republican) – Pending. House CD 14: Linda Dailey (Democratic) – added; Paul Hawes (Republican) – added. House CD 15: Rebecca Cervera (Republican) – added. House CD 16: Barbara Carrasco (Republican) – Pending. House CD 17: George Hindman (Republican) – added. House CD 21: Daniel Curtis "Dan" Boone (Democratic) – added; Candace Duval (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate; Richard Morgan (Republican) – added. House CD 22: Douglas James "Doug" Blatt (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 23: Jeffrey Blunt (Libertarian) – added; J.B. Oswalt (Libertarian) – apparently not a candidate; former Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 35. House CD 24: Patrick Fabian McGehearty (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate; Tim Rusk (Democratic) – added; David Sparks (Libertarian) – apparently not a candidate; John Stathas (Libertarian) – added. House CD 25: Jim Dillon (Republican) – added. House CD 27: John Grunwald (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 34; Filemon Vela (Democratic) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 33: David Alameel (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 6; Charles King (Republican) – added; Al Lee (Republican) – apparently not a candidate; Monte Mark Mitchell (Republican) – apparently not a candidate; J.R. Molina (Democratic) – added. House CD 34: former Edinburg City Manager Ramiro Garza, Jr. (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 27; Juan Angel Guerra (Democratic) – added; Cameron County District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos (Democratic) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 27; Marc Steven Young (Republican) – apparently not a candidate. House CD 36: Keith Casey (Republican) – added; Chuck Meyer (Republican) – added; Steve Stockman (Republican) – previously listed as a candidate for House CD 14; Tim Wintill (Republican) – added. Railroad Commissioner 2: Thomas Nance, III (Libertarian) – added. Railroad Commissioner 3: Al Lee (Republican) – added; Guadalupe County Attorney Elizabeth Murray-Kolb (Republican) – added.

In my Commentary of this past 9 February, I likened the 2012 Republican presidential nomination race up to that point to but the first Act of a drama on which the curtain had closed (after the delegate selection events of the previous Tuesday [7 February]- all of which former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum had won); there was now to be an intermission before Act II.

In this regard, the Arizona and Michigan GOP Presidential Primaries on 28 February were like the orchestra playing selected themes from the overture as incidental music after the house lights have come back on and while the theatregoers have all returned to their seats– then the curtain rose and Act II was thereafter being staged, beginning with the exciting adventure of ‘Super Tuesday’ 6 March…

Incoming search terms:

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