Reader comments
In calculating delegates, 2 plus 2 may equal 3 — or 5

African saying: "Sometimes an honest defeat is one's only reward."

Mitt planned on winning Iowa and New Hampshire to "catapult" him to the White House. The problem is that despite spending tens of millions, voters who met Mitt didn't like him. And then there's the flip-flop problem, which even Mitt admitted is an issue for his campaign.

Mitt should quit after Michigan, enough with the ego delusions. Then maybe the GOP can elect a candidate who will win without having to fight off Mitt's millions.

Without a valid delegate count, we are left to ride with the media's choice on what and/or who is important to follow. I am confused and disappointed in this election system that relies on media hype and bias reporting to push one candidate up and pull another down.

That was utterly and completely useless. I was hoping for an explanation of why delegate tallies varied from source to source. As far as I could tell from the article, the answer is "No one knows, but don't worry about it." So you're telling me no one really knows how our presidential candidates (and therefore the president) are chosen?

Isn't that a problem in our society?
TOO MANY SECRET COMBINATIONS?
Simplify!!

If Romney didn't get his arse handed to him, would we need the algebra lesson? I think not. We'd simply be reading about he glorious win.

If people don't like Mitt, even after spending millions of dollars around the nation to garner votes, what are you worried about? I'm sure the people who work for Marriot and Jet Blue have no problem accepting his money, as well as the hundreds of other smaller businesses and people he has hired.

Here's some math for you -- according to CNN, Mitt leads in total delegate count: 30 for Mitt, 21 Huckabee, 10 for McCain, 6 Thompson, 2 Ron Paul, and 1 Giuliani. I'd say that adds up to not giving up quite yet.

Regarding the process. Anyone that hasn't figured out that both parties choose their nominee by a process that makes the BCS look fair and reasonnable hasn't been paying attention. It isn't the media's fault, the two party system we have now is an insider's, backroom process that has little to do with what the primary voters really think or say. It only gets somewhat democratic in the general election. Get involved and change it.

Let's hope Mitt gets the nomination so someone can help us with the Huge deficit this country is running on or we will have even bigger problems in the future. We can't keep spending money like little kids and not feel its effects. We need help desperately.

To Lizzy: Electing Mitt will solve the huge deficit problem??? Isn't his argument to cut taxes, just like Bush? Where did the deficit come from? Bush inherited a deficit-free country from Clinton.

This kind of fuzzy math is Mitt Romeny's dream! He can say one thing, mean another, say he knew it all along and always be correct!

To Blake: I think you've got this guy figured out!

Mitt will win either way, whether it's figuratively or literally.

I'm kind of tired of all the bashing of Mitt and Mormons that goes on here so this is the last time I come here.....I'm a Viet Nam vet also a Mormon I am voting for a Vet ( Mc Cain )I'm not going to bash Mitt or anyone else. Had Mitt served I probably would have voted for him. Now, Bye bashers

The story could have clearer on the point that over 1,000 delegates are needed to win nomination, and that the total of delegates awarded in New Hampshire was about the same as Wyoming--so why the hype in New Hampshire?

On the "vet's" comment about Romney not serving in the military: During the Vietnam War, the US military still relied on the Draft for manpower. People who knew they were going to be drafted into the Army would join one of the other services. McCain's Dad was an admiral, so he attended the Naval Academy 1954-58 (a free education and not wartime) and became a career aviator. People used deferments for college, and ministerial service (ministers like Huckabee were exempt from the Draft--though he was too young), and then were drafted after graduation or missions. Then the draft lottery ended many deferments. I finished my mission, got # 16 and became a career Air Force officer. Romney finished his mission, got a student deferment, got #325 or so in the lottery and went to law school. We both complied with the law. It was literally the luck of the draw. I would not have joined if my number had been high.

So you're advocating that Mitt withdraw? The word you used was "quit". Not likely. He didn't earn his millions by quitting when the going got rough. Mitt is not retreating, he's just attacking in another direction. You quitters take your advice somewhere else. The less committed and determined may take it.
Go, Mitt.

To Raymond Takashi Swenson:
Thanks for the well-informed and well-articulated comment regarding military service. I had never really thought of it that way.

I always enjoy your well thought out comments whenever I read them. I don't know if we are related, but I enjoy sharing your last name just because your comments are always thoughtful and don't try to spew hatred toward anyone. Thank you. As far as this article goes the race isn't over yet.

I was wondering how the delegate counts could be so different. Thanks for pointing out some of the chaos surrounding this process. It's interesting that no major media seemed to report the Wyoming primary or the results.

I find it amazing that so many media outlets had Hillary quitting after losing in Iowa, and that many think Mitt should quit after two second-place finishes (one very close) and one win. I don't get it. Lots of pundits at work here (and they're wrong half the time!) But hats off to Richardson for stopping now. I find this whole race quite interesting and look forward to the continuing drama.

Whether or not Mitt wins the nomination, he has gone further and done better than any other Mormon who ran for President. Thank you Mitt on behalf of my children, their children, and on and on.

RoyBoy writes:

"Bush inherited a deficit-free country from Clinton."

Whaaa?? Really. To anyone who believes that: I've got some prime farmland in the Florida swamps to sell you . . .