Posted on 02/08/2012 2:27:58 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo
(Reuters) - Former U.S. senator Rick Santorum rejuvenated his presidential hopes on Tuesday with a shocking sweep of the three nominating contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, dealing a blow to wounded front-runner Mitt Romney.
Even though Romney still holds strong advantages in financing and organization, his campaign will now have to refocus to fight back the challenge from the surging conservative Santorum...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Be that as it may, the delegate total takes some of the luster off Santorums sweep. Here he had the best single night of any candidate so far and he STILL trails more than 2 to 1 in delegates.
All right! Go Rick! The “Rick revolution?” He’s the best family values candidate in my estimation.
I agree with you Christie, I just don’t think Santorum has the “it” that we need to beat Obama. I KNOW Obama can beat Romney, but I think Obama would srtuggle with Newt.
Santorum’s serious lack of Government management experience, added to his history of being a big Pork spender and somewhat moderate, in regards to his actual record, leaves more than mere qualities to be desired.
You can place your entire agenda on “family values” if you like, but that is not what will fix this mess. Hell, even Obama qualifies for your criteria. He is a good father, family man, etc,.
This whole primary is just getting insane and quite stupid. There is no way Santorum will win against Obama. He lacks the personality and the leadership ability, required to be President. It's just that simple. God help us all if he gets the nomination. But most of all, the foolish people who are making this happen is the part that alarms me the most.
Romney may be ahead, but his "inevitability" meme is shattered, and his momentum is greatly damaged. He spent a lot in FL for just 50 delegates, and his ability to raise money was dependent on his being seen as inevitable.
We shall see what Super Tuesday brings.
How many states have the others won?
That is how I feel. All of the candidates, he is the weakest one. When will this nightmare work itself out. People are voting for family values while the country is in dire straits financially and with corruption.
I would rather lose w newt or Rick fighting Obama to the death, than win w myth who is Obama-lite.
Like dig up some long forgotten girl who went to HS with Rick that saw him eat meat on Friday during Lent. Wolf Blitzer would love that one! (the pompous ass)
Right you are. We may wind up with Ron Paul before this is over. We are witnessing the implosion of the Republican Party. No way can we win an election after this house divided. Obama et al are laughing.
Sorry...I will no vote for a coward never less a big government social “conservative”..
BTW...How many of those “wins” were in states that Newt wasn't on the ballot?
I am one of about four folks who voted for Rick here in Florida.
He appears to blow the doors off mitt and newt when it comes to ethics and I am hoping he continues to show that mitt is NOT inevitable.
enough of the Bill Chrystal, Chas. Krauthammer, Ted Baxter, Bret Beahr, Toyko Rove, Ann Colter, Sean Wannabe, et. al. Romney cheerleading squad
It's time for some honesty - the rank and file don't want mittens and don't want to be TOLD he's the chosen one
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Beautifully said, Elle Bee!
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The wife and I have been watching Newt's self destruction with dismay. He and Romney have been acting like un-disciplined, destructive children since SC.
Their styles are different but the net is the same...they both have made themselves less likeable and less presidential to those who were in their camps.
Santorum looks good in comparison by assuming the mantle of the only adult in the room.
I think Santorum would be an awful candidate, for all the reasons that you have pointed out, but at least this makes Romney look bad.
Gingrich was not even on the ballot in one of these, and he was not expected to do well in either of the others; also, the caucuses are non-binding.
However, Romney was expected to do well in at least 2 of the states, and the only thing that this says is that people do not want Romney. Even what I would consider the RINO crowd, who are basically the majority of GOP voters and would be the majority of Santorum’s voters, don’t like Romney. So maybe this will get a message to the GOP that Romney is not “inevitable.”
I’m thinking that Santorum is angling for a VP slot.
That said, as everyone probably knows, I started w/Cain and am now a Newt supporter. I have been clear that I have serious concerns about both Rick's record as an conservative and his apparent lack of depth in terms of having any sort of a vision and/or plan for saving America. It is all well and good to offer platitudes about freedom, liberty, right to life etc; but, where is the plan and the vision that will move us out of the current dire predicament and into the future?
Some things that to ponder regarding last nights results:
1. According to CNN the turnout in all three states was low. Why? Would this have changed if delegates were actually being assigned? Will the answer to those questions have a significant impact upon the actual election in these states?
2. Were these wins more a rebuke to Obama (directly related to his intransigent stance against the Catholic church and religious freedom/freedom of expression) rather than an endorsement of Santorum himself? (Santorum appears to have the most doctrinal “right to life” position and the most lengthy and consistent record of practicing his Catholic faith.) How will this issue affect the female vote in an actual election?
3. Why, if the “tag team” strategy that was rumored early Monday was true (Newt to concentrate on delegates in the South; Santorum in the Mid-West; w/the objective of arriving at a brokered convention) is Santorum projecting the image that he, alone, is now the “solid” alternative to BOTH Romney and Obama???
4. Why no immediate congratulatory speech from Newt??? Did Rick and Newt actually have some sort of accord as rumored; or, was that just a ruse??? If they had an agreement; has Santorum violated it in some manner; hence, no “congrats” from Newt; or, is Newt just being a “sore loser???”
There appear to be many "undercurrents" suddenly developing in this primary election cycle.
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