And Then There Were Two. . .

"Senator John McCain defeated Mitt Romney on Tuesday to win the delegate-rich Florida primary, solidifying his transformation to the Republican front-runner and dealing a devastating blow to the presidential hopes of Rudolph W. Giuliani. Aides to Mr. McCain and Mr. Guiliani said that after Tuesday’s dismal third-place finish, the former New York mayor would drop out of the race later on Wednesday and was likely to endorse Mr. McCain. . . The results were a decisive turning point in the Republican race, effectively winnowing the field to Mr. McCain and Mr. Romney, two candidates with very different backgrounds who have little affection for one another but share a similar challenge in winning over elements of the party suspicious of their ideological credentials."  [McCain Is Florida Victor; Giuliani Set to Exit - New York Times]

There is now a three in four chance that the next President will be the first of his or her religion, race, or gender to hold the office.  And McCain, himself, as a Vietnam war veteran who was a POW, certainly brings unique characteristics to the race.

I'm still torn about who to vote for.  I wish the female candidate was a smart second term Senator with a reputation for really knowing her stuff who wasn't bringing along so much baggage.  It's a Catch-22, though -- without having been First Lady and without Bill, she might not have had as much prominence in the party.