The Republican race--a new poll

This blog has been very high on the Huckster's chances in the last couple weeks. Right now, according to a LA Times/Bloomberg poll, Huckabee is polling 6% in New Hampshire. That's neck-and-neck with Ron Paul, who's polling 5%. Here's the numbers in NH for the rest of the candidates:

Romney 28%
Giuliani 23%
Don't Know 13%
McCain 12%
Thompson 11%

Though he might not have national name-recognition yet, Romney is the Republican front-runner and Giuliani is trailing him. This is an extremely fluid Republican situation. Here's my prognosis. McCain could very well pull out before the voting starts, but that seems unlikely at this point. That he stages a comeback is also very unlikely though. Thompson might be a two-and-half-month flameout and pull out before voting starts. Giuliani will not do well in Iowa, and will be in the position of Lieberman and Clark last time on the Democratic side, faced with the overwhelming free-media tide of a Romney or Huckabee. Where are all these votes going to shift to? That's the question. After a Thompson flameout, a Gingrich candidacy might be in the offing. But the beneficiaries will be Romney and Huckabee. Paul might gain some support but without being a serious contender, even in New Hampshire.