We knew it was coming.  The closer we got to Florida, the clearer it became.  Giuliani's all-in-one Florida strategy wasn't going to work -- and after last night's distant third place finish, that notion unfortunately became reality.

Giuliani, who once dominated national polls as early as three months ago, steadily fell behind McCain, Romney and Huckabee as they all took the center stage in the early primaries.  While Rudy, instead of campaigning and defending that national lead, believed (with his strategists) he didn't need the "small" states, that they could just focus on the Sunshine State and skate into Super Tuesday.  So while Rudy was setting up his ambush in the swamps of Florida, along came the Huck-a-craze ... and Romney's charm with pledges of bringing prosperity back to Michigan ... and now the latest McCain resurrection, ALL with the free media that actually PARTICIPATING in primaries gives you.  Rudy's campaign managers couldn't have been more wrong on their strategy.

According to reports, today Rudy will be dropping out and giving his endorsement to McCain.  Couple that with Huckabee taking potential votes from Romney, and we're pretty much ensured a McCain nomination for the Republican party.  As for McCain, I have to admit, I'm not a fan -- even with my man Rudy endorsing him.  I have respect for him as a politician, and for what he went through in Vietnam, but as president??  I'll be pulling for Mitt here on out -- especially with the rumors swirling of McCain taking Huckabee on as a his running mate.

I have to admit, Obama is starting to look really good.

FILE:  POLITICS