GQ's Presidential Playlist: 03.14.12

[#image: /photos/5582fc6c3655c24c6c954f23]||||||

This week the death race headed south to Alabama and Mississippi, where voters slapped down Newt Gingrich’s neighborly appeals and told Mitt Romney where he could shove his inevitability argument. Here’s a look--or rather, a listen--at the presidential race, as told by a Spotify playlist.

Listen to the playlist here.

  1. For Barack Obama: "With a Little Help From My Friends," by Joe Cocker. Obama is wooing British PM David Cameron hard this week--with a basketball game and a state dinner--for good reason. The two need to stick together on a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan in the face of rising political pressure and on taking a more hostile tone towards Iran.

  2. For Mitt Romney: "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow," by The Soggy Bottom Boys. This is the first song on Mitt Romney’s Spotify playlist, released by the campaign last week. After Tuesday’s losses in Alabama and Mississippi, it seemed appropriate.

  3. For Rick Santorum: "Oops!...I Did It Again," by Britney Spears. "We did it again," were the first words that came out of Santorum’s mouth at his victory celebration last night. He didn’t seem terribly contrite about it, either.

  4. For Newt Gingrich: "September," by Earth Wind & Fire. Reporters spied Gingrich and his wife dancing at a hotel bar while they were on the campaign trail in Mississippi last week. He lost the state, a must-win for him, but vowed to go on to the party’s convention in September anyway. This song was on the hotel cover band’s set list.

  5. For Ron Paul: "Steal My Sunshine," by Len. The media’s been a little unfair to Ron Paul. Turns out he did win more of the popular vote in The Virgin Islands caucus--he just didn’t get the most delegates. From the aptly titled "You Can’t Stop the Bum Rush."

  6. Bonus Track: "The Song That Doesn’t End." That incredibly annoying earworm made famous by Lamb Chop is actually a pretty good soundtrack for this campaign. God help us.