I was listening to my “sparring partner” Rush a moment ago, and he was mentioning a theory offered by Rick Santorum that Romney might be in better shape if Giuliani wins the Florida primary, because that will keep him alive going into Super Duper Tuesday, and, the thinking goes, Giuliani and McCain split the moderate vote.

I’d offer a skeptical note – this works if you’re a Romney backer who worries about your man’s chances in a one-on-one face off with McCain, or an effective one-on-one between two leading candidates and a few trailing candidates (Huckabee, Paul). (The more or less one-on-one conflict in New Hampshire should make Romneyites nervous, but the results of Michigan should make them confident.)

Sooner or later, this race is going to come down to two guys; Romney will probably have to win a head-to-head against McCain to get the nomination. I’m not a fan of winning-by-losing strategies; I’d say pursue the winning-by-winning strategies.