I’m going to presume these poll numbers reflect Republicans or leaning Republicans and it is noteworthy that, in this group, both Romney and Gingrich are as unpopular as they are popular. That’s shocking and, I think, reflects how horrific their negatives would be among voters at large. We know Newt was over 60% negative in a national poll of all voters.
Seems to me that Santorum is the last chance for a conservative to take the nomination and win in the general and that only Santorum and Romney have *any* chance of winning the general. Santorum may be the last best chance to unify the base so that they go into the general with one voice and one message.
Orange..impossible and this is why:
Rick will field no delegates In Ill.
He will field none in TN, either.
He is not on the ballot in IN
He is not on the ballot in DC
He is not on the ballot in VA
He will not field any delegates in ND
He is not on the ballot in 20% of OH
He could not even try to compete in the first big state of FL, and has already said as much about CA and NY.
Here’s the bad news:
Delegates are going to be pledged; and no matter how much you beg, they aren't’t going to be assigned to Rick Santorum later just because you really want them to be.... And really, in that above scenario, TN is the only one that assigns them later, anyway....... Rick CANNOT win the nomination. He CANNOT. ...
There is NO PATH to 1140+ delegates for him, period.
(Special acknowledgment to TITANS for his fact finding info and comments)