It is interesting, and very instructive. The phenomenon is classic cognitive dissonance and presents a problem--what do you do when everything you've been stuck on turns out to be bogus?
Do you simply admit you have been sold a bill of goods? Some might, but where the ego-involvement is too intense, that is not an option. The next option is simply to ignore or deny the discrepant information as if it didn't mean what it plainly does. Another tactic is to minimize the significance of the discrepant information--"well, maybe so but it don't mean nuttin."
We see all of these defensive maneuvers as the Santorum clique desperately seeks to hold together a crumbling view of their deeply flawed candidate.
‘A warning shot’? LOL! When you shoot, you shoot to kill.