But if you don't want Romney, what choice is there?
Poll Date Sample MoE Romney Santorum Gingrich Paul Spread RCP Average 3/7 - 3/21 Romney : 36.3 Santorum: 28.7 : - 7.6% Gingrich: 15.6 : -20.7% Paul : 10.9 : -25.4%Santorum is closer to Romney than Gingrich is to Santorum. At least you can still beat Romney by adding Santorum and Gingrich together, although it is bothersome that they don't add up to 50%.
I do think Rick has gotten somewhat desperate lately, launching the Bain attack, this comment, bringing up the dog incident -- just like Gingrich got desparate in Florida.
Who knows how this would have played out if one or the other of them had been able to stay on-message?