Ignore the cable pundits. Trump's campaign was a joke. Gingrich's campaign was a farce. Palin will not run. I have said these things from the beginning. The real battle is not between Palin and Bachmann, but between Dr. Paul and Bachmann. Remember where you heard it. This will be a big story soon.



Ron Paul can stake a fair claim to being the father of the Tea Party movement. He has made his arguments intelligently and well for many years. Depending on the final field, he could emerge the kingmaker at the convention if his votes are near the ceiling of his potential, rather than the floor.



While I view Palin as a lightweight creation of television opiners who have a long history of being almost always wrong about politics, I have suggested for some time that Michele Bachmann Michele Marie BachmannEvangelicals shouldn't be defending Trump in tiff over editorial Mellman: The 'lane theory' is the wrong lane to be in White House backs Stephen Miller amid white nationalist allegations MORE is a major league player who should not be underestimated. Bachmann is hiring first-rate staff and has been brushing past Palin for some time now.



As the campaign gets serious and the debates get attention, watch the battle unfold between Paul and Bachmann in the high noon showdown on the right of the GOP.



Dr. Paul will have to get past Bachmann to approach the higher end of his potential support. Michele Bachmann will have to get past Paul and become the final candidate of the right.



You read it first right here on The Hill. The battle between Paul and Bachmann for the post position on the right will be one of the big stories in the 2012 campaign, very soon.

