They're not running for VP at this point, and I don't know what ambitious person would run for VP. The career path for VP assumes that a) the president you serve under is going to be so popular, for eight full years, that b) voters will want to extend that presidency through you for 8 more years. I don't think trends in the electorate bear that out as a likely scenario anymore.

VP is basically the best career-ending consolation prize you can get, like a plum ambassadorship, it's not something you get in a campaign for. To wit: Pawlenty probably isn't running for VP to Romney by coining the term "Obamneycare" just before the debate.

What the Non-Romneys were trying to do last night is to stay positive and make a good first impression on the many GOP voters who were tuned out of the early campaign rumblings until last night.

You have to build credibility before you deploy it to make an effective negative attack, and last night was all about building. There will be plenty of times in the coming months were the candidates will start to more forcefully differentiate themselves.

It's going to make for some truly funny moments in the next year, and also truly sad when you realize that one of these pandering idiots will get at least 4 out of every 10 votes cast, no matter what truly stupid things they've said or done prior to sealing the nomination.

Of course I didn't watch, I mean, what would be the point of that?

However, I do like to imagine them all getting out of the same teeny-tiny car, tripping over their big, goofy, floppy feet and spraying seltzer all over eachother, while honking.