Scott Walker’s rapid but unsurprising rise to the top of the Republican pack was perhaps the clearest example during the first half of the primary season of the importance of fundamentals: factors that shape the outcome of the race from the very start, like the amount of support from party elites and the potential to build a broad coalition. …
But the next part of the primary season may offer a very different lesson. In the end, it may underscore that fundamentals are not enough: Candidates must run strong campaigns to take advantage of a good starting position. CONT.
Nate Cohn, New York Times