Rick Santorum’s belated good night
The diligent Rick Santorum had earned himself a good night, and last night he got a very good one. Three races were contested — a non-binding primary in Missouri and caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota — and Santorum won all three.
He won easily in Missouri (up by 30 points) and Minnesota (winner by 28). Newt Gingrich was a non-factor across the board, an ominous sign for the Harrisburg Haranguer. His insistent demands that Santorum abandon the race ring even more hollow this morning.
But the real loser is Romney. Four years ago, he won Minnesota with 42 percent. This year, as the inevitable nominee, he came in third behind Ron Paul, getting 17 percent of the vote.
Four years ago, he won Colorado easily with more than 60 percent of the vote. He got 35 percent this year. He also got a lower percentage of the votes in Missouri than in 2008, with Santorum taking well over 50 percent.
None of that can be spun as good news for Romney. His campaign staff is stuck attempting to argue that it’s less bad than it might seem, pointing out that delegates were at stake only in Minnesota and that Romney didn’t really campaign or spend money on these races.
All true. But those states also weren’t hotly contested by the other candidates, and the results tell us that left to their devices, Republican voters still aren’t convinced by Romney.
Romney will still be the nominee. Attempts by those such as Quin Hilyer at National Review to argue that “Rick Santorum can win the Republican nomination. Rick Santorum can indeed beat Barack Obama in the fall” simply do not convince. Santorum can do neither.
But he certainly did have a very good night, earning more than enough momentum to stay in the race and proving yet again that GOP doubts about their future nominee are valid.
– Jay Bookman
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
246 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:44 am
the Harrisburg Haranguer
TMML.
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:44 am
Caption: Well of COURSE it’s clean as a whistle! Why wouldn’t it be?
Mick
February 8th, 2012
7:45 am
Rick santorum as president of the united states? No way, no how…
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:45 am
Rounding third…
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:45 am
Darn it all to heck, Mick.
Jm
February 8th, 2012
7:48 am
Yes republicans aren’t fired up by Romney
He will drill be the nominee though
And I’m fired up for Romney
A guy who can beat Obama and knows better than any of the other candidates including Obama, how to get America working again?
Yes please. Romney will kick some Obama tail.
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:50 am
He will drill be the nominee though
Drill here, drill now, pay less! Come on, shake them pom poms, BibleSpice!
Fred
February 8th, 2012
7:51 am
Gee Jm, how does Romney’s proven track record of sending millions of American jobs to China fire you up as a qualification that he can get Americans working again?
Jm
February 8th, 2012
7:52 am
Doubts about romney’s ability to beat Obama are not valid.
Doubts about his quality as a candidate are not valid.
The American voter will be faced with a choice: the current double A, trillion deficit president, or a decent family guy who is a fiscal conservative, who will shrink government where it needs it and will cut the deficit.
I’ll take Romney and I bet most Americans will too. If the choose Obama, then we have sealed our future. It will resemble Greece’s future. Riots, poverty, massive unemployment.
Road Scholar
February 8th, 2012
7:52 am
It looks like the Repubs will have a brokered nomination at their convention this summer. No one stands out at the presnt time!
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:53 am
Attempts by those such as Quin Hilyer at National Review to argue that “Rick Santorum can win the Republican nomination. Rick Santorum can indeed beat Barack Obama in the fall” simply do not convince. Santorum can do neither.
Hush yo’ mouf, Jay. Me likee this meme.
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
7:53 am
“Welcome to where time stands still
No one leaves and no one will
Moon is full, never seems to change
Just labeled mentally deranged
Dream the same thing every night
I see our freedom in my sight
No locked doors, no windows barred
No things to make my brain seem scarred
Sleep, my friend, and you will see
The dream is my reality
They keep me locked up in this cage
Can’t they see it’s why my brain says “rage”
Sanitorium, leave me be
Sanitorium, just leave me alone”
–Thomas Jefferson
Jm
February 8th, 2012
7:54 am
Sfd “still” silly
Romney didn’t send millions of jobs to china Fred Flintstone
Democrat steve jobs’ Apple did
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:54 am
I’ll take Romney and I bet most Americans will too.
Intrade is ready when you are.
http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/contract/?contractId=743475
Jm
February 8th, 2012
7:55 am
Sfd I’ve made my bets. With donation dollars dimwit.
Granny Godzilla
February 8th, 2012
7:56 am
Ricks wins are FABULOUS…..
Peadawg
February 8th, 2012
7:56 am
Jm, how can the American people trust anything Romney says as much as he flip-flops?
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
7:56 am
Doubts about romney’s ability to beat Obama are not valid.
Doubts about his quality as a candidate are not valid.
However, doubts about jm’s grip on reality are very valid.
Fred
February 8th, 2012
7:57 am
How does a man that didn’t garner enough support in his home state to gain re-election to the Senate gain enough momentum nationwide to become President?
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
7:58 am
“But the real loser is Romney. Four years ago, he won Minnesota with 42 percent. This year, as the inevitable nominee, he came in third behind Ron Paul, getting 17 percent of the vote.”
holy moly.
that’s gonna leave a mark …
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
7:59 am
‘However, doubts about jm’s grip on reality are very valid.”
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:59 am
With donation dollars dimwit.
That’s swell. Still, given that you’re in the
gamblinginvestment biness, I figured you’d have some skin in that part of the game as well.Also: “Dimwit?” That the best you can do? Come on, I give you actual initials to work with here! let’s see, “dee bee,” what else could that stand for…
barking frog
February 8th, 2012
8:00 am
Looks like a major Obama Republicans movement is afoot.
Fred
February 8th, 2012
8:01 am
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
7:56 am
Doubts about romney’s ability to beat Obama are not valid.
Doubts about his quality as a candidate are not valid.
However, doubts about jm’s grip on reality are very valid.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think that is the ONE item that every poster here, Republican, Democrat, or Independent/Third Party can agree on.
Mick
February 8th, 2012
8:02 am
jm
The romneybus is stuck in a ditch, you need to get out and push. If you get out of the ditch, there are many hazards awaiting up ahead..
Normal
February 8th, 2012
8:02 am
Isn’t it true that two of the three “primaries” are non binding? If so, then Rick really didn’t win a thing,
other than what one would call a poll. So where’s the beef? All he got was a high five…
Fred
February 8th, 2012
8:03 am
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
7:59 am
Also: “Dimwit?” That the best you can do? Come on, I give you actual initials to work with here! let’s see, “dee bee,” what else could that stand for…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh! Oh! Pick Me! Pick Me!.
Can I have ding bat for $100 please Alex?
Real Race
February 8th, 2012
8:04 am
Now that’s a real race…and whoever is behind door number one will be the nominee!! The longer it takes for the Repubs to choose a candidate, the nastier the race will be! Who would have thought??
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
8:05 am
“a major Obama Republicans movement ”
now THAT would be the definitive definition of RINO
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
8:06 am
Fred @ 8.03, I also answer to “Dum Bass” and the ever popular “Douche Bag”, and occasionally I strive to live up to the appellation(s).
As much fun as this sorta thread is (who among us does not love spreading Santorum?) I gotta go produce. Be excellent to one another.
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
8:06 am
damit, Fred pipped me to the post …
was going to say Dubious Bra-size
Fred
February 8th, 2012
8:10 am
Are you saying USinUK that he wears “Da Bro”
http://gizmodo.com/5092694/man-bra-keeps-your-moobs-in-check/gallery/1
Skip
February 8th, 2012
8:11 am
The guy that lost to the guy that lost to Obama Why are Cons trying so hard to give Obama second term?Mitt dosen’t have a chance.
Fred
February 8th, 2012
8:11 am
All this typing this morning has been taxing and db’s post about being productive has positively worn me out. Think I’ll go have a nap. Later.
stands for decibels
February 8th, 2012
8:12 am
Oh, and if JB from downstairs comes back, I apologize for that dopey “reduce to tears” business @ 7.42. That was real Thulsa Doom territory, taking this online persona entirely too seriously, and basically being a dum bass.
Mea culpa.
/drive-by
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
8:13 am
USinner & Fred
I just call it the way I see it. I think jm’s an ok guy overall. It’s just his version of reality that worries me from time to time.
Cosby
February 8th, 2012
8:13 am
Yawn..slow news day…but lets talk about the electorial college that does not and should not pick from either party but a true statesman to get the USA back on track to be a world leader rather than a third world wanna be!!
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
8:16 am
I give you actual initials to work with here! let’s see, “dee bee,” what else could that stand for…
gm
February 8th, 2012
8:16 am
Jm
This guy lost his home state by 25 points, Oh, and Obama is not a family man? , oh I forgot black men can not be family men.
Obama spent money on Americans, I guess you Anti Americans were ok with the last President spending billions, building Irag and funding two wars, but its not ok for the President of the United States to spend money on Americans in need, please you hypocrites rep put the flag down, Americans have always cared about ohter Americans.
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
8:18 am
Bro – Doe or D-OH! ???
as for Jm – well, he does provide hours of entertainment on a nearly daily basis … everyone has their role in life …
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 8th, 2012
8:20 am
I guess the hit squads had to be up all night doing research. I fully expect by tonight MSNBC will be telling us Santorum hit a girl in Dodgeball in the 7th grade.
Of course Fox will say that this is great that all the Republicans are getting vetted. Never mind that even the Republicans don’t seem to like their own candidates much less the Independents.
ByteMe
February 8th, 2012
8:21 am
Doubts about romney’s ability to beat Obama are not valid.
Doubts about his quality as a candidate are not valid.
Repeat ad nauseum until you believe….
Rep would vote for satan
February 8th, 2012
8:23 am
This shows what a bunch of nut jobs on the right, this guy could not win his home town, because he was terrible, yet the idiots on the right vote for him, Newt can not get a win, only if a bunch of red necks and hillbillies in the south vote for him.
Mitt can only get the rich votes, look at the different make up of people that are voting for Obama compared to these losers, a party of bigots will never win the President.
ByteMe
February 8th, 2012
8:24 am
I fully expect by tonight MSNBC will be telling us Santorum hit a girl in Dodgeball in the 7th grade.
No, but they might tell us to Google “Santorum” just for giggles.
the howardchronicles
February 8th, 2012
8:24 am
Rick is slick, he is the best ally that President Obama could have. Keeping the GOP devided unable to unite behind one candidate is the one thing that is being orchestrated well by the democrats. It will mean 4 more years of out of control spending, 4 more years of “nanny statism”4 more years of the populace watching the lavish lifestyle of the Obama family vacations.
4 more years of ineptness in foreign affairs. After 4 more years, nothing left, rights have been usurped, the deficit beyond saving…”gone with the wind”
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
8:25 am
USinner
I didn’t think about the D-oh, but was referring to doe as in Bambi’s mom.
I get a fair amount of entertainment from many posters here, both left and right. I love to see people refuse to accept the truth when confronted by it, and instead choose to cling to their ill-conceived truths fed to them by others.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 8th, 2012
8:25 am
As Nate Silver explained mid-day yesterday, long before we’d seen any results, these three races “will provide an important test of how robust Mitt Romney’s coalition is on less favorable terrain … and they could potentially revitalize the campaign of one of Mr. Romney’s opponents, Rick Santorum.”
When the dust cleared last night, Romney had failed this “important test” and Santorum could credibly claim that he, not Newt Gingrich, is the GOP frontrunner’s principal rival going forward.
carlosgvv
February 8th, 2012
8:27 am
It’s official!!!! Now that Minnesota, Missouri and Colorada have given the vote to Santorum, we know they are as dirt dumb as Georgians.
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
8:27 am
“Keeping the GOP devided unable to unite behind one candidate is the one thing that is being orchestrated well by the democrats”
darlin’, the Democratic Party couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery … do you honestly think they could orchestrate the circular firing squad currently happening in the GOP???
barking frog
February 8th, 2012
8:28 am
USinUK,8:05, I think it’s more a love the man, hate the party
kind of thing.