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A Santorum win in Michigan could be chaos for GOP
Reuters ^ | 02/26/2012 | John Whitesides

Posted on 02/26/2012 5:50:17 PM PST by SeekAndFind

The Republican presidential race faces a potential turning point on Tuesday in contests in Arizona and Michigan, where upstart Rick Santorum threatens to plunge an already unpredictable nominating battle into chaos.

Mitt Romney, the former front-runner and presumed nominee, and Santorum are in a close race in Michigan, the state where Romney was raised and his father was an auto executive and popular governor.

A Santorum win there would be a devastating blow to Romney, turning lingering doubts about his ability to win the allegiance of Republican primary voters into a deep panic in the party's senior ranks.

"If Santorum pulls off the upset in Michigan it turns the entire race on its head," said Republican Dan Schnur, an aide to Senator John McCain during his 2000 presidential bid. "There aren't going to be a lot of people who have much use for a front-runner who can't win his home state."

But Republicans worry about the general election viability of Santorum, a staunch conservative who has courted controversy with a burst of comments on social issues like birth control, pre-natal testing and women in the military.

Santorum's rise and Romney's weakness have sparked speculation about more contenders jumping into a Republican race that could last all the way to a brokered convention in August. The Michigan result could shift that speculation into overdrive.

"A Santorum win in Michigan takes all of the talk about a new candidate or a brokered convention and puts it on steroids," Republican strategist Todd Harris said.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: az2012; danschnur; freeperheadsexplode; gop; mi2012; michigan; primaries; santorum
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To: editor-surveyor; Jim Robinson
Why would I be zotted because Santorum is a hapless idiot?

No, Romeny will win Michigan because Santorum supporters are blind to the fact there is as large of Anybody-But-Santorum faction in the GOP as there is a Anybody-But-Romney faction.

Two genuinely sh!tty candidates.

No, I'll not be zotted for observing Santorum as a loser.

61 posted on 02/26/2012 6:48:50 PM PST by Mariner (u)
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To: editor-surveyor

Virginia is a strange case!


62 posted on 02/26/2012 6:49:18 PM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: SeekAndFind

Every night I am praying for chaos.


63 posted on 02/26/2012 6:53:18 PM PST by RIghtwardHo
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To: SeekAndFind

I think Romney’s in trouble, but I’m a bit worried about the Democrat crossover vote.


64 posted on 02/26/2012 6:53:29 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Yankee

Me too. All up for some chaos.


65 posted on 02/26/2012 6:55:52 PM PST by Mozilla (Defeat Romney first then defeat Obama)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

” Voting for Ron Paul (in Virginia) to stop Romney or slow him down, also probably passes the situation ethics test and is a necessary evil for a greater good. “

There you go. You got the hang of it. We team play or it’s Bust with Romney. After all, democrats are being encouraged openly to mess with our primary. Newtsters and Ricksters need to line up together where they must.

It also makes for fair play with our candidates rising or falling on their own. Where they lead considerably, or are in the margin of error against Romney they MUST be supported against Romney.

Newt is expected to lead in the South and will need support.
Santorum may contend well in northern states.


66 posted on 02/26/2012 6:57:17 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: Cicero

I read where Romney aides said Arizona and Michigan were not “must wins”. LOL! What does that tell us? They can’t be so cock sure Romney wins either in a walk to be making such a statement, at a time when they are trying desperately to keep the RINO Establishment on board with the odd duckling, and preparing the backers for a long primary.

I certainly hope Santorum wins or threatens Romney by a close race which at minimum serves to embarrass all involved with him.


67 posted on 02/26/2012 7:02:00 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: dayglored

I cut and pasted it on my iPad.


68 posted on 02/26/2012 7:04:45 PM PST by Linda Frances (Only God can change a heart, but we can pray for hearts to be changed.)
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To: SeekAndFind
.

.

.

.

69 posted on 02/26/2012 7:06:12 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (the whole reason we have elected officials is so we don't have to think all the time. -Homer Simpson)
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To: editor-surveyor
Why I will NEVER vote for Romney.

If you read what I posted about the warning from the religious leaders about romney, you will have documentation on what a liar and fraud Romney is. If we give up our values and vote for a man that has lied, like Obama, with the help of the liberal media, like Obama, who wants gay marriage, like Obama, abortion, like Obama, who wants gays to be able to adopt children, like Obama, who BOOSTED government funding for pro-homosexuality indoctrination starting in kindergarten, Obama hasn't done that yet, and who said that The Boy Scouts should allow homosexual scout leaders.  This is after he “saw the light.”  He is just like Obama, who people did not know the truth about. The media is keeping the ignorant public worried that Santorum will take away their birth control pills, which is all a set up to hurt a conservative candidate. Why did Romney get the question about contraceptives at the debate, and had the perfect answer, when they Knew it was Santorum who PERSONALLY didn't use them? Romney is a liberal progressive in republican sheep clothing. He doesn't sound conservative, because it's not who he is. Knowing he made his money at Bain by taking advantage of innocent employees, how do we know he isn't going to use the peoples money to enrich his buddies who helped him get in office, JUST LIKE OBAMA?

70 posted on 02/26/2012 7:16:48 PM PST by Linda Frances (Only God can change a heart, but we can pray for hearts to be changed.)
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To: AmericanInTokyo
IT WOULD BE THE AVERAGE REPUBLICAN VOTER SPEAKING HIS OR HER MIND

That's what I'm afraid of; their voting history shows them untrustworthy.

71 posted on 02/26/2012 7:19:08 PM PST by Theodore R. (Forget the others: It's Santorum's turn, less baggage, articulate, passionate)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

I want chaos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he1B-748vA4


72 posted on 02/26/2012 7:21:56 PM PST by Mr. Peabody
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To: SeekAndFind

To all those who think three out of five contestants for the office of president not being Natural Born Citizens is just coincidence, Send me five thousand dollars and I will guarantee 100% return every year. Hurry, only limited openings.


73 posted on 02/26/2012 7:22:54 PM PST by W. W. SMITH (Obama is Romney lite)
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To: Mangia E Statti Zitto

Mittens will win MI because like Scotland Yard, the GOP-E always gets its man. People in MI are too confused to do anything else.


74 posted on 02/26/2012 7:24:40 PM PST by Theodore R. (Forget the others: It's Santorum's turn, less baggage, articulate, passionate)
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To: Mariner

There is also an anybody but Newt crowd out there,or do you ignore that?You newtereds are hilarious.


75 posted on 02/26/2012 7:35:51 PM PST by Craftmore
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To: SeekAndFind

Why! If Romney were the choice, all would be fine. But if it’s apparent that Santorum is the choice then everything’s haywire! I’m losing my faith in the Republican GOP establishment. I’m going Tea Party and Santorum will win 3rd party.


76 posted on 02/26/2012 7:41:19 PM PST by discipler (How's that 'hope and change' working for 'ya? - RL)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

Romney loosing in Michigan and (politically) bleeding out through a ruptured hemmoroid is not an unpleasant image.


77 posted on 02/26/2012 7:42:35 PM PST by DonnerT (After all is said and done, it is God's Will that will be done.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The communist/socialist elite have spent a lot of time putting themselves in control of the political parties. 70 to 80 years with a minor (JFK) hiccup, control of the Democrats. 30 to 40 years with a large (Reagan) hiccup, control of the Republican party. It CAN NOT be coincidence that three out of five contenders for the office of president and the most often advanced name for VP are not Natural Born Citizens.
Please, someone who’s math is not as rusty as mine, what are the odds of this happening.


78 posted on 02/26/2012 7:44:04 PM PST by W. W. SMITH (Obama is Romney lite)
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To: discipler

Their are suppose to be a lot of Christians/Catholics in Michigan. Pray to God that God gives them the wisdom to go out, even those who normally would not and vote for Rick.

Good night and prayers said for all you Freepers, our troops, our country and Rick.


79 posted on 02/26/2012 7:54:45 PM PST by Linda Frances (Only God can change a heart, but we can pray for hearts to be changed.)
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To: editor-surveyor

“Don’t forget that we need for Paul to win in Virginia.”
******************************************************
I agree with that just to deny the delegates DIRECTLY to Mitts. Of course, just like in pre WW2 Spain, there may be a 5th column (Paul & his supporters) waiting to be of service to Mitts should they win Virginia. Nevertheless, it’s still worth a shot.


80 posted on 02/26/2012 7:54:55 PM PST by House Atreides
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