In your scenario Santorum is probably the better choice. He’s the one that was beating or tying Romney and winning in both north and south.
Not saying I expect much but I could definitely continue to back him.
While I give you that Santorum is the more “pastoral” candidate, and was not wiped out like Newt, by Romney’s cash machine, neither of these two have the convention rules and numbers and ground game in place that even begins to compare with that of the Paul delegates (and his stealth delegates).
Ron Paul is measurably resisted by all of us rather equally. That is something to unify around. LOL! AND, he didn’t cave, suspend, or run off, or run up debt to be bought off by Romney like all the rest.
I believe we fall back into “my guy-your guy” arguments kills us and time is out. At this hour, there is only one left standing with guns. He has a name, he is relentless on fiscal policy and tyranny, and he is honest to a fault.
We are at a tipping point and, like him or not, we need a radical who can’t spell c-o-m-p-r-o-m-i-s-e, or intimidation, or buy off. The whole bunch of them have fallen out on that point.
I am not saying I won’t rise for ABR, so please hold that thought. I am just looking at the horse from hell already able to tip the convention/coronation. The others have no heart beat and are thrown in with the program. They couldn’t get an army together if they had to, because they haven’t.