The Republican Presidential field further thinned itself of serious candidates when Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels took himself out of the running today. Daniels had been looked to by many Republicans unsatisfied with the current field, but he cited family considerations in declining to enter the race. I considered Daniels a good candidate for Republicans, and at this point I see only Romney and Pawlenty as having any chance to win the nomination. In the meantime Republican Herman Cain, a former CEO of Godfather Pizza, announced his candidacy. Cain’s roll-out included an interview on Fox News Sunday, where he was asked about negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Cain clearly had no idea what Chris Wallace was talking about when he was asked about a Palestinian “right of return”, a major issue in prospective talks. After Wallace hand held him to understand what a “right of return” was, Cain said that it was fine, and certainly subject to negotiation. Apparently Cain, who passes himself off as a strong supporter of Israel, didn’t get the memo from Bibi explaining that a “right of return” was out of the question. Talk about not ready for prime time.

And speaking of prime time how about the new “warning” from Newt Gingrich directed at Democrats contemplating using Gingrich’s Meet the Press comments in political ads. Gingrich has laid down a tough marker, saying “any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood.” Yes thats right. Let us not quote Gingrich, because to do so would create a falsehood. Gingrich was a runaway winner of the Chris Cillizza “Worst Week in Washington” award, and as far as I can see may be striving to hold the crown for another week. An increasingly isolated and desperate Gingrich may bring additional levity to the Republican process in the weeks to come. Not a very impressive start for the GOP.