I heard that pollsters in MI saw a trend to Santorum as the vote neared, among people who had not already voted and were deciding late.
But it was said that early votes Romney had already bagged were an unknown, but possibly a decisive, factor.
Looks like that’s exactly what played out. To project a Santorum win you had to discount early votes which favored Romney.
However, if enough people had responded to the robocalls and other incentives to vote Santorum, he could have still pulled it out, when you look at the margin.
That he didn’t, means he was extended to the edge of his potential, that he was maxed out, so to speak, which could mean he had problems of his own that held his own vote a bit in check.
Both of the candidates have serious weaknesses.
Newt has the strengths they lack.
Overwhelmingly.
Getting that “out there” is the challenge.
My brother lives in TN.
Newt’s personal baggage will hurt him in that traditionalist state.
Otherwise he, and not big labor RS, would be leading there.
It PAINS me.
My prediction is that Tennessee will not look at that baggage as the ultimate piece of information. We (native Tennessean here) also believe in forgiveness.