Where would Romney be right now if he were running on a financially level playing field with Mike Huckabee? Where would Mike be if he had the same financial empire as Mitt? If Mike beat Mitt in Iowa despite Mitt's 10-1 spending against him, Mike certainly would be winning if he could do the same in other states. If Mike is among the last four GOP candidates standing now (third in the delegate count), just think what his placement would be with a surplus of funds to battle on the airways like McCain and Romney.

As The Washington Post rightly noted, "Romney's money is his mojo: If he's not spending, he probably isn't winning."

The truth is, for Mitt, that his presidential run is the biggest investment gamble of his life. And with the White House appraising at roughly $106 million, he's betting his largest wager on owning the Oval Office.

As one appraiser calculated, "To qualify for a jumbo 30-year, fixed-rate loan at 7.5 percent, and assuming 10 percent down, the proud new owners of the 132-room house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. would need to pull down an annual salary of at least $18 million."

Of course, that's pocket change for Mitt.

Then again, in an economic housing slump and with a possible recession on the horizon, Romney just might be able to take advantage of its owners (us) and maneuver them into a buyer's market steal.

The question is: Will we let him?