I think throwaway candidates have a purpose..first of all to save your shining stars for the real race in four years. And you can increase your diversity with more women, minorities etc. who might be the best and brightest but also it might not yet be their time..but they open the gates for those following after. Geraldine Ferraro, Sarah Palin..And we are now in the process of plumbing the depths of how prejudiced people are against Mormons, which is one of our last allowable openly spoken of and socially approved prejudices, so Romney, whether he gets the nomination or not is serving a true purpose. mg