By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
Republicans found themselves facing agonizing day-after questions Wednesday that they admit are nearly impossible to answer while trying to hold together their diverse electoral coalition and ensure their survival as America's conservative party.
Bound by a common desire to deny President Obama a second term, restive activists gathering Thursday for the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington find themselves lacking a clear champion in the suddenly scrambled Republican race to choose an alternative.
A job-approval boost for President Obama is almost inevitable following the dramatic Sunday-night announcement that U.S. military forces had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
"It's hard to believe, but Gingrich could become the alternative to Romney, given the weakness of the other candidates and the desire of Republicans for anybody but Mitt," said Conservative Battleline editor Donald J. Devine. "It's impossible for anyone to win this primary early in January, for anyone and especially for Romney."
"Unless there is some horrific retaliation, this helps Obama even through November since it makes him look good and helps get foreign policy off the news," former Reagan administration official Donald J. Devine said, though he cautioned that "it will not help greatly, as the economy will be the key."
