I think there is a ground swell building for Rick. Also, Santorum is a level above Palin in ability to articulate a point. To stick to a premise when I have watched / listened to them both.
Fair enough, if that's your perception, but I don't see it anywhere. He's not in the news, and no one except hard-boiled political watchers even have him on their radar.
Heck, I'll bet you that most Republican voters don't even know who he is.
Like I said, it takes a LOT more than just being a good guy with the right views, to be elected president.