[Peach]

Santorum isn't a moderate. Neither were a lot of the other candidates.

And you don't honestly believe that the next Republican to run for Santorum's seat will run as a staunch conservative do you? They'll run to the middle so fast you're head will spin :-)

[mewzilla]

Mugwumps aren't reliable voters, though, Peach. They're lazy and fickle. Both parties run to the middle at their peril.

[dirtboy]

Santorum isn't a moderate.

Santorum lost largely because the Dems were smart enough to nominate a pro-lifer in a strongly Catholic state. That right off the bat took away Santorum's core advantage over previous Dem opponents.

But I do agree that we cannot make sweeping generalizations about why the GOP fell, especially since the losses appear to be falling in line with typical losses that happen to the party with a six-year President in the White House.

[rintense]

Exactly. I'm afraid the days of a 'true conservative' ever having a chance at the national level are over. Every time Dems are in control, we take two steps toward socialism. And every time Pubs are in control, we take one step back. We will never regain what we had. Will we get some? Yep. But to be Joey blue skies about appealing to the base, redefining the party, etc. is wishful thinking.

[conservative in nyc]

In MD, according to CNN's website, 35% is in. But only 20% is in from heavily Democrat Baltimore City (which is swinging 80-20 Cardin), and 25% from Montgomery County in the Washington Suburbs (about 70-30% Cardin). On the other hand, many of the small rural Republican counties are 100% counted.

It's going to be an uphill battle for Steele, absent a very strong absentee ballot showing.

Please don't shoot the messenger.

[Alberta's Child]

Santorum was one sitting senator who lost. And he was running as a very conservative candidate in an old, dysfunctional state that has gotten increasingly "blue" over the years.