By any measure of campaign success former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remains the front runner in the Republican presidential nominating contest.
Romney has amassed more delegates than any of his potential rivals and has outstripped them all in terms of fundraising and organization.
But the recent rise of Rick Santorum, a former Senator from Pennsylvania, has some political observers wondering if the Romney campaign's claims of inevitability are showing some cracks.
Romney has throughout his campaign faced deep skepticism among conservative leaders who note that the health insurance program passed under his watch in Massachusetts was a model for President Obama's health insurance reforms.
Added to that, Romney's views on social issues like abortion have been subject to charges of flip flopping - perhaps most succinctly put by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who in fending off Romney's attempt at a Senate run said that Romney was neither pro-choice nor anti-choice but "multiple choice."
And Romney's lead in delegates has proved costly, in a literal sense, fueled by a barrage of negative ads aimed at his opponents.
Romney's prodigious spending has some in Washington wondering if he will have the resources to compete in the upcoming contest in Michigan, where Santorum has established a lead in recent polls, and in the 10 states voting on March 6th's "Super Tuesday" contests.
Romney aides insist that his fundraising is on track - bolstered in part by celebrity businessman Donald Trump, who himself flirted with a Presidential run before endorsing Romney.
Having easily outpaced his rivals for the Republican nomination in fundraising - Romney received more than $56 million in 2011, with Texas Rep. Ron Paul coming in second at $25 million - should his campaign cash run short, it runs the risk of undermining one of the central arguments of Romney's candidacy.
Romney has long argued that he has the best shot of winning the general election against President Barack Obama - in part because of his claimed ability to match the fundraising power of a sitting president. (Obama raised more than $247 million between his campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2011).
To make up any deficit in fundraising that may occur, Romney has the ability to tap into his own personal wealth, though such a strategy carries some risk for the candidate.
Romney has already come under fire from his Republican rivals over his business dealings - charges that seem almost certain to reoccur in the fall should Romney win the nomination - and using his own wealth to fund his campaign could exacerbate his vulnerability.
It remains to be seen whether Santorum's recent rise in state and national polls will translate into the funding support he will need to compete with Romney.
Santorum raised just $2.2 million in 2011, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports, though the campaign has reported a surge in donations following the former Senator's sweep of three nominating contests on February 7th.
Whatever deficit in fundraising the eventual Republican nominee faces against Obama will likely be moderated by funds from the Republican National Committee and "Super PAC" organizations that can raise unlimited funds from corporations and wealthy individuals.
But regardless of how the overall campaign finance picture shakes out, should Romney run short of funding in advance of Super Tuesday, it would show a distinct vulnerability undermining one of the central tenants of his campaign.
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