This may mean that it would be to Santorum’s advantage to have someone else top 20%, thus cutting the third and fourth place finishers out and giving him the bulk of their delegates. If I am reading the legalese right, If Santorum finishes with 50% and Romney with 20%, the 25 at large would be split 18 to Santorum and 7 to Romney, with everyone else cut out, but if the standings stay as they are, it would be something like 14 to Santorum, 4 to Romney, 4 to Newt and 3 to Paul. By winning by four percentage points less, if the points went to Romney, Santorum would have a net gain of four delegates, and increase his lead on Romney by one.
Of course, I may not be understanding the formula properly.
Romney still might make the 20% threshold, since the whole of the third district is still out—only eight precincts, but they are big ones.
Upon re-reading, given the rounding I think if Romney doesn’t make 20% and Santorum stays over 52, the 25 will be split 14-5-4 (if Newt stays under 16) and 2 to Paul. The rounding rules really hurt whoever finishes towards the end, but if Romney makes it to 20, cutting Santorum down to 50, then Santorum gets 18 and Romney gets 7.
The key for Santorum is hold each of the others below 20% and he would not have to share those at large delegates.
I misread the article and thought Romney was over 20% but he wasn’t.