In this election cycle there is an especially long period between the early state primaries and Super Tuesday. Nate Silver imagines scenarios where this could matter:
The long gap in the nomination calendar could … give Republicans more time to contemplate how their nominee might perform against President Obama, a comparison that might not help Mr. Gingrich. Put another way, there would be more time for the party and its voters to develop “buyer’s remorse” over their seeming nominee. The news media — which has some incentives to keep the horse race going — might play along, applying more scrutiny to him while seeking out any sign of hope that Mr. Romney’s campaign was still alive.
Or it could allow Gingrich to get his ground organization in line in time for the next battles. Whatever happens, it looks likely to be long, drawn out and eventful.
The Dish 