Super Tuesday: The last chance to stop Romney

Perhaps the worst-case scenario for Mr. Romney is that his victories are limited to three states — Massachusetts, Virginia and Vermont. He loses everything else, including the several caucus states to vote on Super Tuesday — as well as Washington, which holds its caucus on Saturday…

Michigan (like Arizona, which he won easily on Tuesday, and Florida, which he won on Jan. 31) was interesting precisely because a loss there would have been particularly damaging for Mr. Romney. It could have provided unambiguous evidence that the Republican electorate was rejecting him, creating an opening for either Mr. Santorum or a brokered convention and a new candidate.

I am not sure that there will exist another such opportunity on the calendar. Losing Illinois on March 20, or perhaps Maryland on April 3, could damage Mr. Romney. But there has been little polling in these states, and losses there would probably not have the narrative consequences that a loss in Michigan or Arizona or Florida would have.