Centerfield

CNN-sphincter sez wot about the Florida Primary?

This is CNN's lead for their Florida GOP Primary story:

Floridians are voting today in a primary battle that could play a crucial role in deciding the Republican presidential nominee. If Sen. John McCain wins, his status as the national front-runner will be cemented. If former Gov. Mitt Romney comes out on top, the battle for the GOP presidential nomination will be up in the air.

It's so irritating to me that they don't even get a link. Screw 'em. Here's the thing....their own table shows Romney having carried 3 states to McCain's 2, and also shows Romney with a 67-38 lead in the delegates.

So how the frack does a McCain win cement his frontrunner status while a Romney win would merely throw things in the air? McCain needs this win to BECOME the frontrunner. If Romney wins, he's a bit more in command. CNN has it 100% bass-ackwards.

Another thing wholly missing from the story as reported by these alleged pros is any explanation of how many delegates are at stake and how they will be handed out. I had to go hunt it down, myself. Thanks for nothing, projoes.

Anyway, Florida doesn't apportion its GOP delegates, it's winner-take-all, which in this case is half of 114=57, because of the national party's 50% penalty. So if McCain wins it's 95-67 McCain, and if Romney wins its 124-38. Which of those scores whiffs of a blowout?

CNN saw fit to bury the most cogent part of its story in the 15th and 16th paragraphs:

Florida is a closed primary, which means that only registered party members may vote in their own party's primary. McCain won primary contests in New Hampshire and South Carolina, thanks in part to the backing of independent voters who cast ballots in the Republican contests. McCain won't have that luxury in Florida.

"A McCain victory in Florida will be particularly significant because only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. It will be a way for McCain to prove his bona fides with the base," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider. "If Mitt Romney wins Florida, it will be a clear signal that the base is not happy with McCain. The Arizona senator could be facing a conservative revolt."

If I had to bet, I'd place my dough on Romney in effellay.