Now what: Do the Florida results really mean the nomination battle is over?

There have been more twists and turns this nomination season than a roller coaster at an amusement park.

And with all the hype leading up to and continuing on after the first few primaries, one would think that there is little reason to be worried about how this will all end.

But while the early primaries have definitely thinned the herd, the truth is that there is still a long way to go before one Republican nominee has the 1,144 votes necessary to claim the nomination.

Look at the number of delegates claimed so far and you will realize just how many more months this battle is likely to drag on if all the hopefuls stay in the race -- and how many more television commercials we will all have to endure.

Good thing these super PACs have deep pockets.

There are definitely positives to a protracted nomination process. The candidates are pretty well vetted -- and they are used to fighting off attacks -- personal, political and otherwise.

So, maybe, if this goes on long enough, we will know the Republican candidates so well that there won't be much more they need to say.

And the reason for that is that Florida is not the end -- but merely a pit stop on a long haul.

North Carolinians might have worried that May is too long away to have a real say in who will get the GOP nod.

All we can say is, don't bet on it.

Published in Editorials on February 1, 2012 11:43 AM