TNR’s John B. Judis speculates that “when the Republicans meet in Minneapolis-St. Paul in September 2008 to choose their nominee, they might be looking at a brokered convention.” The reason he thinks this election might be different is the front-loaded primary schedule. But as he acknowledges, “dire prognostications of brokered conventions are made nearly every election” (just like third party speculation) — and they are always wrong. The reason is simple: voters and especially elites tend to align behind the candidate that emerges as the front-runner after early primaries. There’s no reason to think that same dynamic won’t sort out the GOP field. It’ll probably just happen faster than usual.