Steve Benen — one of my favorite politically left writers — has given in to the siren’s call and attempted to read the crystal ball on where the Republican primaries are headed. He offers four possible scenarios:
* Republicans make their peace with McCain and he gets the nomination;
* Republicans decide they just can’t live with McCain as the party’s leader, but they split the anti-McCain vote four ways and he gets the nomination anyway;
* Republicans decide they just can’t live with McCain as the party’s leader, and they rally behind Romney;
* Republicans can’t decide anything, and head towards a brokered convention, much to the delight of reporters (who love the drama), political scientists (who love the history and deal-making), and Democrats (who love to see Republicans at each other’s throats).
From that list, I pick Door #2 as the most likely, with Door #4 close behind.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Just this morning, after back-to-back, egg-on-the-face moments (post-NH and post MI), I swore off predictions. And here I am jumping right back into the mix. I can’t help it. Besides, I’ve been so remarkably wrong already, what’s one more stumble going to do … destroy the credibility I don’t have?