Don’t mistake my criticism of Romney as an endorsement of Santorum.
Santorum might have lost 48, but it would have been because the Republicans elites were doing their best to subvert him. Just a hint. He won in Iowa but Romney’s operative lied and the lie held enough long enough to keep his win out of the headlines. It was small enough that when it was found he had won that it gave him not help in New Hampshire. Even a second place there would have put him even with Romney and maybe kept guys like Newt and Cain out of the limelight. Santorum is not a very attractive guy, but one thing he learned in Iowa, and that is how to talk to real people. THAT is useful.