2012 Decoded

Newt Gingrich may have the momentum.  But Mitt Romney has the organization, and that's what could be the difference-maker in a drawn-out nomination contest.

Gingrich's latest organizational challenge: Getting on the ballot in Ohio.  It's looking very possible that Gingrich won't have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot by 4 p.m. today, according to the Washington Times' Susan Crabtree.  That would require him to mount a write-in campaign.

More from the Washington Times:

Gingrich backers said the campaign could mount a write-in effort in Ohio if need be. But missing that state's 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline would be the latest embarrassment for Mr. Gingrich's organization.

Mr. Hammond said this week that he intentionally missed the Missouri deadline for getting Mr. Gingrich's name on the state primary ballot. He said the Feb. 7 primary is nonbinding, but promised to participate in caucuses there a month later, where the state's delegates to the nominating convention will be picked.

Mr. Gingrich also turned in a messy, handwritten form for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary and filled in only seven of the alternate-delegate slots - a distinction that is unlikely to have much impact because candidates rarely have to rely on alternates.

It's important to remember that organization matters more in this year's primaries, with the national party requiring all states that hold March primaries to award delegates proportionately, a process that would slow down the momentum of a surging candidate, like Newt.