Romney's Curious Claim of Mathematical Inevitability

Mitt Romney’s campaign sent out a memo yesterday saying, “As the other candidates attempt to ignore the basic principles of math, the only person’s odds of winning they are increasing are Barack Obama’s.” The memo asserts that “the delegate math just doesn’t add up for anyone but Mitt.” Well, let’s take a look at that math.

According to RealClearPolitics, fewer than a third of all GOP delegates have been awarded to date, leaving more than two-thirds still to be won. So, delegate-wise, this contest is still early in the second quarter — or, if you prefer, in the bottom of the third inning. Has Romney run up such overwhelming tallies in the early part of the game that it’s time to invoke the mercy rule? Hardly.