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Thank you! There is a huge [real or deliberately pushed] misconception and/or confusion about these primaries among electorate, including many of those on FreeRepublic - it's that you need to "win" a particulate state - like Michigan or Arizona - to get the delegates... and so, by extension, a lot of people are thinking of or are going to vote for Santorum in these states for no other reason than to "deny" Romney the delegates, because Santorum has been close to him in the polls.

That is nonsensical, because the vote for Gingrich would accomplish the same thing, but that's the perception. In fact, the only reason Santorum was able to rise from obscurity by "winning" nonbinding delegates in Minnesota and Missouri, is because he was a beneficiary of neither Gingrich nor Romney campaigning there. Outside of Midwest / labor union states, Santorum has hardly any appeal.

The plan is to rack up delegates in large proportional states and win large all-or-nothing states. To that extent, Santorum's "mini-surge" can be a detriment, but in some states it could also be of benefit since a large part of Santorum voters are much closer to big-government Romney than to small-government/Tea-Party Gingrich, so as long as that part keeps voting for Santorum, it's fine - they don't give delegates to Romney.

It's important to notice that while many polls show both Romney and Santorum fighting for the "win," they are still only getting around 30% of votes and, with Paul at usually stable 10% or single digits, this should leave about 30% to Gingrich... but there remains a large percentage of "undecided" who may be swayed by the polls and the notion that Santorum needs their "strategic vote" to "win" in the state to "deny" delegates to Romney.

Since "winning" the state like MI or AZ is irrelevant (except for bragging rights) and this is the wrong kind of "strategic vote" thinking - "natural" Gingrich voters (at least on FR) should be educated about this.

Part of the problem is the RNC. They have new rules, have accommodated states, have given conflicting messages. Have not come out forcefully how each state is selecting delegates.

Then there are the states: Look at the fiasco's in Florida, Virginia to name two. Do any of the states have a clue (Including Indiana....(He's on, He's off, He's on)

The media has contributed to the confusion. OTOH they certainly have no responsibility in straightening out the GOP..National and State lack of clarity.