And then, there were three and a half. Or maybe two.

Michelle Bachmann, an intelligent woman if something of a political lightweight and one who would do well to check her facts more carefully before saying anything about anything, is out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Jon Huntsman, who in a rational world might well have been the nominee (being the best qualified candidate for president in either party, including the incumbent), is also out of the race, and has endorsed Mitt Romney.

Rick Perry, who was out of his depth from the word go and probably should never have gotten into the race in the first place, has also dropped out, and endorsed Newt Gingrich.

Ironic, that.

That leaves Romney, the presumptive nominee; Newt Gingrich, who has only hours before ABC's explosive interview with his first wife is broadcast and  destroys any shred of viability his campaign still has; Rick Santorum and Crazy Ron as the only remaining Republican candidates. And here, we haven't even held the South Carolina Primary yet.

But maybe four is too high a number. Gingrich will probably be out within the week, and Paul is half a candidate at best. The latter will continue to draw protest votes, but to the extent it's still a race at all (and it's surely not much of one), it's between Romney and Santorum.

HT: Drudge

ADDENDUM: Or not. Obviously, Marianne's interview didn't accomplish much in South Carolina, and seems not to have done too much good in Florida, either. And Newt is doing a better job of playing Romney- cool, in control, not rising to the bait, acting presidential- than he did the last time he was the front runner.

But being Newt, how long can it last?