'Momentum' By Any Other Name...

Marco-mentum. Joe-mentum. Carson-mentum? 

In elections, as in sports, "momentum" is a force you hear about all the time.

Campaigns and the political press ascribe the force of "momentum" whenever a candidate wins big (and sometimes even when he or she finishes second) in primaries and caucuses. The thinking is that success breeds success, and one win will lead to others. But is it true? 

Mark Leibovich of The New York Times Magazine talks to Bob about why momentum is a word that can't be proved or disproved, and why the political press likes it. 

Then, George Washington University's John Sides, co-author of The Gamble about the 2012 election, explains the history of the concept of momentum and why it's statistically just as likely to fade as it is to propel a candidate to victory.

Songs:

"Charlie" by Georges Delerue (from the film "Shoot the Piano Player")

"Shake Your Lovemaker" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies