Process of elimination.(2008)(Mitt Romney)

OUR endorsement of Mitt Romney in the last issue concluded with a note about "this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field." Since then, the race has gotten still more unpredictable (and not only on the Republican side). From June through early December, the leading Republicans in national polls were Rudolph Giuliani and Fred Thompson. Neither placed in the top two in the first big contest, the Iowa caucuses, or in the top three in the second one, the New Hampshire primary.

Instead, candidates who were widely written off last summer won them. Mike Huckabee and John McCain persevered, and deserve congratulations for their wins. But the race remains wide open. It is possible, if only just barely in some cases, to see Giuliani, Huckabee, McCain, or Romney winning the nomination. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Thompson.

Because we believe both social and economic conservatism are important, as is the coalition that sustains them, we do not favor Giuliani or Huckabee. That leaves McCain and Romney.

McCain has shown himself to be a strong candidate, but his conservatism is in some question. Not, of course, with respect to the Iraq war, where he has been prescient and steadfast. But he could go further to ease conservatives' doubts on other issues, particularly as he starts to compete in more conservative states. He should be able to do so without violating his conscience.

He continues to support a "comprehensive immigration reform" that includes a guest-worker program and legalizes most illegal immigrants. But he says that ...