Santorum surges into the lead (National poll Santorum 38%, Romney 23%)

Public Policy Polling ^ | 02/11/2012 | Public Policy Polling

[Rational Thought]

Riding a wave of momentum from his trio of victories on Tuesday Rick Santorum has opened up a wide lead in PPP's newest national poll. He's at 38% to 23% for Mitt Romney, 17% for Newt Gingrich, and 13% for Ron Paul.

Part of the reason for Santorum's surge is his own high level of popularity. 64% of voters see him favorably to only 22% with a negative one. But the other, and maybe more important, reason is that Republicans are significantly souring on both Romney and Gingrich. Romney's favorability is barely above water at 44/43, representing a 23 point net decline from our December national poll when he was +24 (55/31). Gingrich has fallen even further. A 44% plurality of GOP voters now hold a negative opinion of him to only 42% with a positive one. That's a 34 point drop from 2 months ago when he was at +32 (60/28).

[RetSignman]

Actually, I think this may a good thing for Newt, Santorum is scorching romney effectively, Newt can stand by and watch the destruction take place without looking ‘negative’.

It’s the ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ scenario. Newt can then pick the best time to surge to finish line.

JMO.

[Theodore R.]

Mitt can stop his slide NOW. All he has to do is announce Jebbie or McPain for that matter as his running mate. This would thrill the establishment beyond words.

[Drew68]

I have felt all along that the general will be decided by the economy. If the economy turns around, no one would beat Obama anyway. If on the other hand things stay bad.... then even your dad could win :P

The economy is dismal. Gas prices are going up each week. And yet Obama still leads in the polls. In an election year where "anyone could beat Obama", it seems the GOP found the only four guys who can't. By every indicator, Obama should be shopping for a house right now!

Sorry to be a wet blanket but, damn, I'm just not feeling very optimistic. And the poor primary turnout seems to be the elephant in the room that everyone is ignoring. Good Lord, is this sorry bunch the best we could find?!?!?

[littleharbour]

You’re correct that Santorum tried to veer to the centre, which was a mistake. His opponent played the charade of being pro-life, which removed the key distinction that Santorum had against his opponents in his first two victories. He also suffered from his support for Specter and the general backlash against Bush. It was a perfect storm that brought Santorum down, some of which was his own doing, but I don’t think there was anyone who could have held that seat in those circumstances.

[GoCards]

Everyone STOP IT! We are going to win this thing. We want the perfect candidate, isnt going to happen. Buck up and get behind the candidate whomever wins! As far as the “dork” complex of Santorum this could be in our benefit... Dorks are cool too! Calm, boring, patient, loving, is all good things. :)

[TomGuy]

I have felt all along that the general will be decided by the economy. If the economy turns around, no one would beat Obama anyway. If on the other hand things stay bad.... then even your dad could win :P

The way the BLS has been manipulating the job numbers the last 6 months is a clue to what they will be doing in the remaining months. By November they and the MSM will make the economy and job numbers seem to be fantastic or at least headed in that direction. Obama will be hailed as the savior from the evil Bush economy.

[alicewonders]

I’d like to take this opportunity to state the obvious; folks - we’re still being led around by the nose by POLLS!!! This is why we’re going to lose this election!

From the beginning of this election - conservatives have let themselves be bounced like a ping pong ball from candidate to candidate, depending on who the media tells them is ahead in the polls. A lot of good conservative candidates have been destroyed by this.

Everyone knows that I have been a Perry supporter from the git-go - I looked at his credentials & decided for myself that he was the best qualified. But his gaffes...you say? I don’t care about that! He has a proven record. When you let the media tell you that someone with the credentials of Rick Perry cannot be president because he gaffed some debates - you let THEM control the discussion.

Now we are stuck with four candidates that were NO ONE’S first choice! We blew it!

[Old Badger]

Steady as you go Newt, cream always rises to the top and you're the cream (brain-fartsⓒ and all).

[BarnacleCenturion]

Santorum is the person at the bottom of everyone’s list of acceptable candidates.

He doesn’t stink but doesn’t smell very good either. He’s a career politician who lost his seat in a landslide defeat to one of the dumbest senators in congress today.

And unlike Newt, he’s an establishment candidate who endorsed Specter (who voted for Obamacare), and Romney in the primary of ‘08. He’s on record saying he’s against the tea party.

Santorum vs. Obama will be painful to watch. I hope there’s a better solution.

[hoosiermama]

A little gal with a feather pen could take Mitt out if she got national attention. She's speaking on local radio stations now. Tricia Erickson's book CAN MITT ROMNEY SERVE TWO MASTERS. Her credentials are impeccable. You can read the first two chapters at Amazon.

The way I look at it, if people don't read the book now, Axelrod will make sure she gets all the attention to make it a best seller after Romney gets the nomination. The American people will be stuck with BO for four more years.

[nathanbedford]

We are in trouble.

What appeals about Santorum is his ingenuousness; what repels about Romney is his transparent disingenuousness; neither one is a strong reed upon which to lean a candidacy.

Gingrich's Achilles' heel is the gender gap. Otherwise he combines the biography demonstrating that he has led and the forensic ability assuring us that he can lead.

Gingrich made a great speech at CPAC demonstrating a matchless ability to articulate the issues and craft compelling solutions. But I want to touch on his direct personal attacks on Obama which at this point I think he must intensify and accelerate. It looks like the nomination is slipping away from him and he has nothing to lose. He has to grab the base now or the media will finish him off.

The more personal the attack on Obama punctuating his personal radicalism the better!

[TomGuy]

Everyone STOP IT! We are going to win this thing. We want the perfect candidate, isnt going to happen. Buck up and get behind the candidate whomever wins! As far as the “dork” complex of Santorum this could be in our benefit... Dorks are cool too! Calm, boring, patient, loving, is all good things. :)

The end result of this campaign is going to be about forgiveness.

Which candidate do you forgive the most? None of the 4 remaining are paragons, so which get the most forgiveness for his past errors in judgement?

Whomever one selects, one thing is sure:

Crows are about to become an endangered species, as many will have to eat crow by the time the November election is over.

[ohioWfan]

I agree with weak, only because he’s an inexperienced fighter of evil.

No one who is unabashedly pro-life is 'inexperienced' in the fight against evil.

Abortion is the single most demonic issue in our culture, and anyone who strongly stands against it publicly is attacked by Satan himself.

Don't underestimate Rick's understanding of evil, nor his willingness to fight it.

[MulberryDraw]

So this poll didn’t include Romney’s reaching out to the severely conservatives.

[GulfBreeze]

Can you do two things. One support your point. Two state who you are for and why you think they are best in terms of electability, currently stated positions and past track records?

[Mountain Mary]

My concern is that many people out there don’t follow politics or even know who Rick Santorum is yet.

The GOP-E(unfortunately) and informed Conservatives are tuned in but...
It’ll take time to get the attention of the masses.

[omega4179]

The wheels have fallen off white Obama. Romney has no support among Conservatives and should quit now.

[for-q-clinton]

I don’t think anyone needs to or should drop out. By switching the target on Romney we keep him off balance and he loses focuses and he’s seen as a negative only candidate. The only way he beat Newt was in Iowa he went 100% negative (along with Paul) to attack Newt.

I think after that Newt said...I’m taking Romney with me as I fall because he started this. Prior to that Newt was very classy in debates and wasn’t speaking ill of is fellow Republicans. But now he’s like a woman scorned and has his sights on Romney. Let Newt be the attack dog and petty fight with Romney...while Santorum can stay on message. Romney won’t be able to fight both of them with his standard 25% polling. Plus if Santorum implodes we have a fall back to Newt. Worse case scenario no one gets the delegates needed and we have a brokered convention—which at this point may be the best news.

[cripplecreek]

Seems to be a lot of excitement for Santorum here in Michigan.

[Mountain Mary]

LOL, Sky.

The other candidates despised Romney and his arrogant sons and their rude friends/campaign workers in ‘08.

Have the slobbering pro Mittens Huck and Juan forgotten? What would have made them changed their minds?
They were promised somethin’ folks..