Romney dials down expectations hard - Jonathan Martin and Jim VandeHei - Politico.com

Mitt Romney, a dominant favorite in New Hampshire just weeks ago, said Sunday that a “close second” to Arizona Sen. John McCain would be a significant feat on Tuesday.

The almost frantic downsizing of expectations for the former Massachusetts governor came as the candidate and his staff are publicly and privately preparing to explain away what would be a disheartening loss and shift to a last-ditch strategy predicated on his ability to outlast and outspend his rivals, according to sources inside the campaign.

I think that what we are witnessing here is the collapse of the traditional GOP coalition, and, down the road a piece, the general understanding that the two-party system in America is probably dying.

Yes, I understand that the first-past-the-gate system we have militates in favor of two major parties, and I further understand that there is a wide-spread network of legal barriers against the rise of new parties.

That said, it is almost a cliche to note that technology is profoundly de-stabilizing, and is so due to its decentralizing and decoupling effects. The networked culture routs around barriers wherever it finds them. I suspect that it is about to decide that our current electoral structure is such a barrier.

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