The Republican Party's search for a presidential candidate has been so entertaining that you kinda hope it'll just go on and on.

All the show needed was to have Donald Trump jump into the middle of it, preening and puffing and once again promoting Celebrity Apprentice. (New season starts February 12!) And, of course, we do have Donald - and a bunch of Republicans literally genuflecting before the Trump throne, seeking his endorsement.

But this is serious business. Somebody from this astonishing field, presumably, will be Barack Obama's opponent next November.

You might have thought the circus would be over in a couple of months - that after the early caucuses and primaries, either Mitt Romney or somebody else would be a clear winner. But there's a good bit of speculation that the Republican race might go on until at least April 1. The reason: this year, few of the early-voting states will have winner-take-all primaries. As The Hill and other media have noted, thanks to new Republican National Committee rules, delegates will be awarded proportionately in these states. And thanks to penalties assessed on states that moved up their primaries, fewer delegates will be at stake this winter. So it's possible that no candidate will be so far ahead that someone else can't catch up.

Adding to the fun: even if both Romney and Newt Gingrich are far ahead of the others come spring, some of the also-rans may decide to stick around. Because of the proportional voting, they'll be picking up a few delegates here and there. (Why would they do that? Power. At some point, one of the leading candidates may need their delegates.)

All this would be exciting - and good for the country - if most of these people were qualified to serve, if their differences were matters of political philosophy and governing approach. Instead, most of them are right-wing fringe candidates whose ascent to the presidency would be downright dangerous. (Want a war with Iran and North Korea? Want to pour oil on the Israeli-Palestinian fire?)

Fortunately, some party elites are as worried as anyone, particularly about Gingrich's rise to the top of the polls. A big concern: his temperament. And tellingly, some of his harshest critics are Republicans who have worked with him in the past.

There could be more drama to come. Some observers suggest that Republican leaders will persuade someone like Mitch Daniels or Chris Christie to enter the race this spring. Or that Sarah Palin will jump in.

For the Obama campaign, this may all be deliciously good news. And for journalists covering the race, it sure is fun. But it's risky fun. About the only advantage I can find in it is this: maybe the leaders of the Republican Party, once a proud and valuable political institution, will come to their senses and break the stranglehold on themselves that they've permitted the right wing to create.