It's Already Over: Super Tuesday Will Be Mitt's Coronation

For those of us who pay attention to the daily polls and latest news, the Republican nomination has surely been a roller coaster. However, the biggest news of the nomination fight largely stayed under the radar: Eric Cantor's endorsement of Mitt Romney.

Cantor's endorsement of Romney comes as a surprise ideologically. Cantor has positioned himself as John Boehner's rival in the House, believing the Speaker is too moderate and too easily compromises with President Obama. He has defended the Tea Party and has frequently advocated their positions. He reportedly pushed President Obama to the brink on the debt ceiling negotiations, forcing the normally cool-headed leader to storm out of the room in anger. For those who lament the leftward shift of Washington politics, Cantor has been a powerful ally. So why would he endorse the moderate Massachusetts Republican so publicly before such a potentially pivotal day in the race?

There are several answers to this question: one given by the majority leader, and two that are left unstated but is clearly the more troubling for Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. The Majority Leader's stated reason was that Gov. Romney is the one in the field who knows how to create jobs. Conservatives argue that Romney's experience as a venture capitalist and business owner gives him economic credibility that the president lacks. This is fine, and if jobs are your priority then the former Massachusetts Governor may be the best choice of the three. 

However, the unstated reasons are more problematic for the remainder of the field. Cantor's endorsement isn't likely to swing a great deal of momentum for Gov. Romney, especially considering that the wind is already blowing in that direction anyway (more on that in a minute). However, it is a signal to the Republican party that this election won't be won by focusing on social issues, especially with the recent focus on dialing back the clock on Griswold v. Connecticut (which Santorum has stated on multiple occasions was bad caselaw, and that states have the right to prohibit birth control if they so choose). Eric Cantor, of all people, issued a reminder to the Republican establishment that elections are about the economy and social wedge issues only matter at the margins for national elections. Cantor's assertion that Mitt Romney "is the only one in the race who knows how to create jobs" is both a damning statement to Santorum and Gingrich, as well a reminder for Republicans to stop swinging at pitches in the dirt and time to focus on what matters to voters the most. "It's the economy, stupid." 

Secondly, Cantor's timing was obviously a signal to Gingrich and Santorum that the writing is on the wall and it's time to step aside. The divisive primary has only served to energize President Obama's previously unenthusiastic base and has damaged all the candidates. For Cantor to endorse Romney, he is clearly signaling to the other candidates that it's time to step aside and work together to make the goal of a one-term President Obama a reality. Santorum has failed to even submit a full slate of delegates in Ohio, and neither Santorum nor Gingrich are even on the ballot in VA. These types of basic mistakes are only part of a pattern of examples of the lack of organizational discipline that are systemic in the two campaigns. 

So for all of you who have made widows of your spouses to the campaigns and daily tracking polls, you can relax. It's over - Cantor's endorsement of Romney signaled that the people in the know are aware of that.