It is hard to say which aspect of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s loss in Saturday’s Florida President 5 straw poll is the most damaging: 1) the fact that he made such an effort to win (including offering to buy every delegate breakfast); 2) the fact that he lost by more than 20 points; or 3) the stories coming out of Florida about voters who went to Orlando planning to vote for Perry, but changed their minds after his dreadful debate performance Thursday.

No matter how you look at it, Perry has clearly failed to meet the market demand for a viable alternative to former-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Hence the renewed interest in a possible New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie candidacy.