Santorum’s Turn [NRO Editorial: Calls Gingrich To Resign, Says Romney Suffers "Lack of Enthusiasm"]

National Review ^ | February 13, 2012

[Steelfish]

FEBRUARY 13, 2012 Santorum’s Turn By The Editors

At the moment Rick Santorum appears to be overtaking Newt Gingrich as the principal challenger to Mitt Romney. Santorum has won more contests than Gingrich (who has won only one), has more delegates, and leads him in the polls. In at least one poll, he also leads Romney. It isn’t yet a Romney–Santorum contest, but it could be headed that way.

We hope so. Gingrich’s verbal and intellectual talents should make him a resource for any future Republican president. But it would be a grave mistake for the party to make someone with such poor judgment and persistent unpopularity its presidential nominee.

It is not clear whether Gingrich remains in the race because he still believes he could become president next year or because he wants to avenge his wounded pride: an ambiguity that suggests the problem with him as a leader. When he led Santorum in the polls, he urged the Pennsylvanian to leave the race. On his own arguments the proper course for him now is to endorse Santorum and exit.

Santorum has been conducting himself rather impressively in his moments of triumph and avoiding characteristic temptations. He is doing his best to keep the press from dismissing him as merely a “social-issues candidate.” His recent remark that losing his Senate seat in 2006 taught him the importance of humility suggests an appealing self-awareness.

And he has rightly identified the declining stability of middle-class families as a threat to the American experiment, even if his proposed solutions are poorly designed. But sensible policies, important as they are, are not the immediate challenge for his candidacy. Proving he can run a national campaign is.

Romney remains the undramatic figure at the center of the primaries’ drama. Lack of enthusiasm for him...

[Impy]

Brokered smokered, Santorum would easily win outright if Gingrich left the race. I think he will win anyway.

[montanajoe]

Santorum will easily lose to Romney if Newt left the race. Let Santorum face Romney's negative ads and we'll see how he does by June or July.

Gingrich has shown he can take a punch and get up from the mat Rick has not won a single big state in-spite of having a free pass by Romney.

I think letting the country vote makes a hell of a lot more sense than either one dropping out. Remember if Romney cant win the majority of the delegates needed by the convention he loses and who ever emerges from the convention will be far more conservative than Romney

[Impy]

Your argument flies in the face of common sense.

[montanajoe]

Only if you want Romney. Look at the results so far..the anti-Romney vote is greater than the pro-Romney vote.

[Impy]

Up is down, left is right, in is out, and another candidate taking votes that would otherwise go to the conservative frontrunner (Santorum) is good. Got it.

Santorum is leading Romney in his original home state of Michigan. Romney’s only hope, the 10% or so that Gingrich is taking from Santorum.

Santorum could clean up and KO Romney on Super Tuesday.

[montanajoe]

Super Tuesday has about 300-350 votes. Assuming Santorum wins every state he is up to 353 not a KO or even a TKO...

Talk to me in July when the votes are cast...