The Burning Question: Can Gilmore Survive?!

Forget feeling the Bern. Can you feel the Gilmentum?

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore was an also-ran in the New Hampshire GOP primary on Tuesday night, but just try telling that to the five people who showed up to his watch party. There was free beer, a cozy fire, even a delightful cheese plate.

“As primary results continue to roll in,” the New Republic wrote, “Gilmore’s name hasn’t even made the cut for CNN’s projection graphic. But the former Virginia governor says he’s already paid the $40,000 to get on the ballot in South Carolina. Onward, #Gilmentum.”

So, Gilmore survives — again. Sure, he doesn’t have the pressure of “expectations,” and no one really knows he’s “still running.” But Gilmore lives on — and may, it seems, never die.

Sure, he doesn’t pack the big houses — or even play them. While Donald Trump will headline several South Carolina arenas next week, Gilmore has plans to have lunch at Spartanburg’s Beacon Drive-in on Wednesday at noon (he does like to sleep in). He works nonstop that day — for four straight hours. Then he flies to Charleston, where on Thursday, with just 16 hours rest, he’ll do an interview with WRNN Radio in that voter hotbed of Myrtle Beach — by phone, possibly from bed.

But it doesn’t stop there: Less than two hours later, at 9:10 a.m., he’s doing another phoner, this one with 98 Rock (his appearance will qualify him for free Slayer tix — score!). He may or may not be dressed by then.

And boy, he’s smart. He winds up the day’s events Thursday by 9:45 a.m., just in case the requests pour in for him to headline a massive event with thousands of voters. It could happen, and Jim the Optimist will be ready when it does.

He got lapped by Vermin Supreme, a guy who wears a boot on his head.

Back to New Hampshire. How bad did Gilmore do? He got lapped by Vermin Supreme, a guy who wears a boot on his head, 98-46. He lost to two guys named Huckleberry and Frothy Mix. Three GOP candidates beat him — three guys who have already dropped out of the race.

A Tuesday night check of Gilmore’s Twitter page, just to see how he was holding up after his last-place finish, found this tweet: “As the only veteran in the race, I understand how much our veterans have sacrificed to ensure our nation’s security.” But that was from Dec. 30, 2015. He’s pacing himself.

It’s understandable that Gilmore came up short. He wasn’t featured in any debate until several candidates dropped out, and he didn’t even go to New Hampshire for the first time until last month.

Then again, no one saw Ohio Gov. John Kasich doing so well in the Granite State until late in the primary race. If Gilmore can finish a solid seventh in South Carolina — perhaps break that 0 percent barrier that is holding him back — suddenly draw millions of dollars into his campaign and simultaneously set up massive ground games in the next 47 state races (along with a territory or two, he may need Puerto Rico to wrap it up), the Gilmore Guy could well end up being the nominee.

You gotta’ believe! Feel the Gilmentum!