The attendees of the Jan. 25 roundtable at the Long Island Economic and Social Policy Institute at Dowling College called the unfolding primary events right. Their opinions in a survey conducted after a debate between supporters of Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain, Mayor Guiliani and Gov. Romney where unmistakable. McCain was favored by 28 percent, with Guiliani lagging behind at 16 percent. That foretold the results of most of the Republican primaries to date. Romney received very little attention, and for Giuliani, who tried to build momentum in Florida, it was far too little and way too late.

For McCain, it was a rebound that nobody ever expected, proving wrong the throngs who thought his best days were behind him. If all goes as anticipated, McCain will lead his party in November against the Democrats.