Posted on 02/07/2012 10:36:59 PM PST by Steelfish
Santorum Delivers a GOP Stunner Former Senator Wins in Minnesota, Missouri; Romney Campaign Plays Down Nonbinding Contests
By NEIL KING JR. And DANNY YADRON
DENVER—Rick Santorum jolted the Republican presidential race Tuesday by winning nominating contests in Missouri and Minnesota, puncturing Mitt Romney's claim to be the unstoppable front-runner.
Mr. Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, was running neck and neck with Mr. Romney in preliminary returns from Colorado, a state Mr. Romney won by a wide margin in 2008.
With about 70% of the Colorado vote counted, Mr. Santorum had 38%, to 36% for Mr. Romney. Four years ago, Mr. Romney carried Colorado with 60% of the vote.
Mr. Santorum's twin victories in the Midwest will give his campaign a much-needed burst of momentum and may stir doubt about Mr. Romney's abilities to woo conservatives to his side in important electoral states such as Missouri. So far, Mr. Romney has won in states where he has devoted significant campaign time and advertising dollars.
Mr. Santorum won 55% of the Missouri vote, while Mr. Romney followed with 25%. Texas Rep. Ron Paul was trailing with 12%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wasn't on the Missouri ballot.
Mr. Santorum's Missouri victory margin of almost 75,000 votes over Mr. Romney was nearly 29,000 more than Mr. Romney's combined Iowa and Nevada total.
While the Tuesday results didn't directly award any of the delegates needed to claim the GOP nomination, they showed voters rejecting Mr. Romney even in states where he had performed well four years ago.
Mr. Romney had carried Minnesota in 2008 but placed third there on Tuesday. With 85% of precincts in, Mr. Santorum had 45% of the vote, while Mr. Paul had 27%. Mr. Romney had 17% of the vote and Mr. Gingrich claimed 11%.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Santorum has an impressive showing in caucus states but can't get voters to show up at the polls.
It's good the press picked up Romney is UNDERPERFORMING vs. 2008.
They missed that in the Nevada result where, yes he won again but he was 50% vs 51%, 1 point below his 2008 performance.
Santorum is a conservative, the nonsense spewed around here these past months not withstanding. 88% ACU, same as Newt give or take a point or two. 11% by the unions. Exactly what would be your idea of an accepatable conservative?
Really? He won with 55% of the vote at the polls in Missouri - that one was a primary and not a caucus. The caucus comes in a couple of weeks or so there.
One who could withstand the assault by Obama.
Nominating a conservative and losing would make this whole process a waste of time. I like Santorum’s character, I just don’t think he can beat the loser in office.
Since I no longer go to Drudge, I wonder how long until the hits come out against Rick ~
So you have no pref. Getting kind of late in the game amigo.
Not quite true. The newscasters were commenting on higher enthusiasm & turnout in many of the counties Rick carried. Particularly compared to Mitt.
I hate them all. I do like Santorum far more than Gingrich.
And by that I mean, I think they all will lose :(
THANK-YOU COLORADO, MISSOURI, AND MINNESOTA!!!!!!
Minnesota you have just redeemed yourselves from electing Jesse Ventura.
We could do better but we could do worse. Santorum is growing into a better candidate, keeping the whiney stuff under controlo for the most part. I disagree though, I think the prince is ripe for the picking. Major mistakes on the pipeline and freedom of religion are gonna bite that dog right in his marxist ass.
Then vote for Obama and wallow in your self pity!!!!!
Yea selfpity. Great comment kit...
The birth control issue was beyond stupid by 0.
For an election year, that move will hurt a lot.
I’m betting he reverses that policy very soon...
Doesn’t matter the damage is done. At mass last Sunday the parish priest made that very clear. Obama has lost even the liberal Bishops in my Church, no mean feat. And he lost union money and feet with the pipeline. Santorum is exactly positioned to benefit from both of those gaffes from the worlds smartest marxist.
I think that is exactly what happened. The Catholics showed up...
The Bishops who read those letters in Church on Sunday had a big impact..
Newt's obviously the Super RINO and Santorum's always been the consistent, "True Conservative™". /s
Like the candidate, Santorum's supporters have a convenient memory on his flip flops, his hypocrisy, his happy embrace of an expanded federal gov't., his prior support for required health insurance, his aggressive work for lobbyists in office and lobbying career after his massive reelection defeat, his betrayal of conservatives in the Spector vs Toomey primary...
Which is why it’s so shocking to me that Obama keeps polling better than all of our candidates. If we can’t beat this loser, how can we beat anyone?
I mean, it’s so obvious to us, but the mods/leftists see him as a “darn good guy”.
Makes me sick.
Per the latest Rasmussen poll, Obama has somehow managed to get back into positive approval - 51% approval vs. 48% disapproval. That’s why it will be difficult no matter who our nominee is.
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