Today's GOP contests: Do-or-die time for Santorum

Do-or-die time for Santorum… And further breaking down tonight’s contests in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks about healthcare, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, in Rochester, Minn.

*** Do-or-die time for Santorum: While they haven't received the same kind of attention as the other early nominating contests, today's races in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri are worth keeping in mind for three reasons. First, they have more projected delegates at stake -- a combined 76 (40 in Minnesota, 36 in Colorado, and zero in Missouri, whose delegates will be determined a later date) -- than all the combined delegates for Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Second, they all occur in presidential battleground states. And third, they give Mitt Romney's challengers, particularly Rick Santorum, the opportunity to upset Romney. Indeed, if Santorum is going to make a serious move now, it's going to come in one of the caucus contests, where either a more conservative or better organized candidate can pull off a victory. Bottom line: It’s do-or-die time for Santorum, and he needs to win two of these three races (Minnesota and the beauty contest of Missouri) to keep his White House chances alive. By the way, today is going to be a tough day for Newt Gingrich; the only question is whether he’ll finish third or fourth in all three. There’s a reason why he’s in Ohio today…


Republican presidential hopefuls have been campaigning in advance of contests Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri with a total of 70 delegates up for grabs. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.

*** Breaking down tonight’s Colorado caucuses: Per NBC’s John Bailey, Colorado’s caucuses work very similarly to Iowa’s. Starting at 9:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local time), Republicans will gather at nearly 3,000 locations across the state to participate in a presidential-preference straw poll conducted by secret paper ballot. The results are then counted, announced to the caucus, and called into county headquarters. Results will be posted beginning at about 10:30 pm ET at http://results.cologop.org/. The state party hopes to have the statewide results totaled and compiled by 12:30 am or 1:00 am ET. At stake are 36 delegates. But just like in Iowa, the delegates to attend the national convention in Tampa will be elected at subsequent state and congressional-district assemblies and conventions. In 2008, slightly more than 70,000 Republicans turned out in Colorado’s caucuses.

*** Breaking down tonight’s Minnesota caucuses: Minnesota, NBC’s Bailey adds, works very similarly to Iowa and Colorado. All caucuses start at 8:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local time). They elect caucus leadership and then conduct the preference poll. In 2008, about 65,000 Republicans turned out, and the party hopes to have similar turnout this time. Unlike the other states, Minnesota’s caucuses report their results to the secretary of state. The state party estimates results will begin being posted on the secretary of state’s website at about 9:00 pm ET (8:00PM CT). Forty delegates are at stake, but like in Colorado and Iowa, Minnesota will actually choose the individuals who will go to Tampa at its later conventions.

*** Breaking down tonight’s Missouri primary (which is really a beauty contest): Today’s primary in Missouri is nonbinding – essentially a beauty contest – and its delegates will be awarded at a later date. But that hasn’t stopped the pro-Santorum Red, White, and Blue Fund Super PAC from running advertisements in the Show Me State.

*** On the 2012 trail: Romney holds a rally in Loveland, CO… Santorum also hits a rally in Colorado, in Colorado Springs, before heading to an event in Blaine, MN… And Gingrich campaigns in Ohio.

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Santorum could win every primary from here to Tampa and nothing would change. He will not be the nominee because he could never be elected.

If he were allowed the Republican nomination, in addition to losing to Obama he would do further damage to the Republican brand. I doubt the Republicans would allow that.

And since he will not win the rest of the contests, he will be a footnote soon. Period.

  • 1 vote
Reply#53 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:06 AM EST

Santorum is a meek fellow, and yet he has never run from a battle...and he is going to enjoy this one. You really think he wouldn't relish defeating Obama.??

    #53.1 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:56 PM EST
    Reply

    The Santorum brand validates the world view of a group of dedicated believers. There may even be some growth in numbers of that group. The current group and potential converts may be attracted by parts of the Santorum story, but what might be most noticeable is how he so often looks so apprehensive. That worried look occupying his features feeds into the worries that his followers feel. What I'm having trouble discovering, however, is what he offers to alleviate those worries. Does he really have a substantive program, or is it all superficial? What do we move forward to, or is all our motion in a Santorum presidency to be retrograde? The Donna Reed Show and Father Knows Best were commercial constructs that even during in their original airings did not mirror the complex realities of American family life. Generations of pro-business and anti-worker tax laws have increased economic insecurity for most of us, but discovery of Santorum-offered remedies remains elusive.

    Santorum is probably angling to be the 2016 nominee presumptive, but the mischief of his current self-focus comes at the cost to the rest of us.

      Reply#54 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 6:32 AM EST

      General Omar Bradley was a whole lot like Rick Santorum. Meek and gentle, but clear-headed and straight as an arrow. And guess what... the General Bradley tank (best tank in the world) was the result. Kind of homely, and hard to decipher, Bradley sort of personified what was America's real strength. So does Santorum! He will knock the pants off of Obama. Don't kid yourself-- Rick is an American champion.

        #54.1 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:04 PM EST
        Reply

        It's because romney is living in an alternate reality. He says one thing but the headlines say another. And it happens day after day. Once in a while, the press makes him retract a statement here & there. I like firing people. I don't care about the poor. I created 100,000 jobs.

          Reply#55 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:38 AM EST

          inSanatorium and his wife brought their still-born-baby-son home in a jar to introduce it to their children ...

          G.W. Bush was introduced to his still-born-baby-brother the same way ...

          But we didn't know this until after Bush destroyed America and the world when Bush confessed this as a reason for his War Crimes, mass-murder and high treason in his book *Decision Points*

            Reply#56 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:08 AM EST

            It's no surprise that Rick "flat earther" Santorum is seeing a rise in popularity. Gingrich is toast and the Cock Bros have to shift gears, yet again, and try to find another schmuck to serve as their front man. This guy has absolutely NO new ideas and is just beating the good old conservative drum trying to round up all the religious fanatics, bigots and ultra rich tax evaders that the GOP represents. If he gets the nomination, the election will be a complete murder with Obama taking a record number of delegates. The nomination of Rick Santorum could spell the end of the GOP as we know it, I can't imagine what more it is going to take for them to realize that all the old fire and brimstone bible pushers are dieing off, that American is a more diverse nation than it was 30 years ago when ronald Reagan was elected and that motivating the hate vote by stirring up contreversy over stupid issues like gay marriage, abortion and hard lines on imigration is not going to cut the mustard. These issues have nothing to do with the financial irresponsibility that got america into the position that it is in. Face the facts people, the Obama administration is digging America out of the deep hole that was dug by 8 years of republican tomfoolery. Send a message to the Cock Bro's and the Grover Norquist's of the world and raise their taxes to pay for the mess that they got us into.

              Reply#57 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:10 AM EST

              what is the difference between palin , bachmann and santorum ? = nothing, there all losers and bores of babble

                Reply#58 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 12:47 PM EST

                Santorum reminds me of conservative Muslim clerics. He will be comfortable of Christian version os Saria laws. He may be from back woods of Pensylvania. It is dounbtful that he has ever travelled to different culture and walk around in theri markets or indulged them in talk.

                If he is to become President most city and suburban folks will be at odd with him. Even his home state rejected him for Senate. He has some wacky beliefs and thinking patterns

                • 1 vote
                Reply#59 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:21 PM EST

                Please people, I'm from Pennsyltucky and even WE knew we shouldn't elect him again to represent us.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#60 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 3:08 PM EST

                Make
                or break time for Santorum

                This joker is not going anywhere but home - defeated that is, and rightfully so.

                  Reply#61 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:03 PM EST

                  There they are!!!: All TV'd Up! Like Dracula, Frankenstein and The WolfMan; MittTaxPittance Rommel, THEGangrene and, last BUT NOT in the least, The WolfManVomitorium! YESSSSSS!!!!! First off is DRAC: aka MittTaxPittanceRommel, Who will START A WAR WITH Iran And A very Profitable War for his RepublicanCrimeCartelCorporateMasters AT THAT!! TheCount was "nice enough" to expose his taxes!! Let Me Seeeee Now...Drac paid 13% on $42,000,000 income EEEZZZZ MONEY: $5,450,000 And! AND!! AND!!! WE American Taxpayer Victims PAID The Count's REMAINING $7,800,000!!!! Thanks for SUCKING US Dry Drac!!! AND Aren't We "LittlePeople" Thrilled that The Count is nice enough to Let US have the Honor of Paying His Taxes!! He WILL ALLOW Even the Poor, Whom HE HAS STATED He "DOES NOT CARE ABOUT", To coughUp his Tax Liability!; 'Long as they got A BloodyJob with deductions Drac can get his FANGS into their BloodMoney as small as it might be!
                  Then There is Frankenstein, err...THEGangrene who, with his department store mannequin "Other Half", will turn to Destructive Rage at the drop of a wrong word or moment!!! EGADZ, This SelfEntitled Creature of Pleasure will Start A War for his RepublicanCorporateMasters AnyWhere, AnyHow, AnyWay, EVEN On The Moon!, as long as there is profit and Franky gets a stipend from it!!! Let alone: ANYTHING TheGangrene Touches will Putrify and Rot like what is left of OUR AmericanBodyPolitic!!! Watch Franky TRY to Come Alive with "Lightening" speed at the RepublicanNationalCrimeCartelConvention!!!
                  Now Comes The WolfMan Vomitorium... What Can be said!! Such a Goot'Lookin'Boy! Ooh Facime! What A Face!! how could he do Anything Unsavory!!! BUT When The Corporate Symbols rise in his eyes, TheVomitorium begins his hungry and Very Hairy Growling for American Taxpayer's Blood!!!!
                  Yes!! THERE is your victim Wolfy!! Go and Savage It WolfMan with BloodLust Fangs and All! Our American UniversalHealthCare System!! All of OUR Allys have it, EVEN the TowelHeads Have A NationalHealthCareSystem!, This Political Beast Savaged and ALSO Struck down OUR Bill for AnAmericanNationalHealthCareSystem!!! Then, when The Killing Is Over, Out Steps The 'A nica'Boy Vomitorium; Ooohh!! How CleanCut!! Yes And so are His savage sever wounds on OUR AmericanHealthCareBill!!!! Brother And Sister American, Putting these guys In Power is Having Dracula Guard our BloodBanks!!! AND You Saw What the Count Did......

                    Reply#62 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 11:59 PM EST

                    I’m beginning to think that President Obama has several of the top Democratic operatives working inside the GOP camp. If the Democrats scripted this they couldn’t have done any better. Romney’s numbers are going down, Newt is one of the most un-liked people in the nation, Santorum is a religious fanatic who was booted out of office by more than a 2 to 1 margin in his home states and believes that states have the right to outlaw birth control. (That should get him about 3% of the women in the nation to support him.) Meanwhile –as this Republican food fight continues – the President’s approval rating keeps going up. This is a dream come true for Democrats.

                      Reply#63 - Thu Feb 9, 2012 8:11 AM EST

                      What would we DO without all these Knowitalls. This column for hopeful political writers can end now and die a graceful death. MSNBC has uncovered a virtual goldmine of "I've got the real story" commentators...none of whom, including "Feisty", have a clue about anythiing. the stuff I been reading in these comments about Rick Santorum are ugly, wrong, and full of vile. But it does noot matter, I suppose--America died about a year ago, killed off by the kranks, weirdos and derelicts of whom we are plagued. Now is not the time to be divided (Nor is it ever the right time), and we are payiing the price for our insolence to God, our hatred, and our ignorance. Well, I'm 80 years old, and in all my years I have never even imagined the kind of malevolence that I am witnessing now, (among the Democrats), and the lack of hope that Americans now share.

                        Reply#64 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:54 PM EST

                        Times are tough and hopefully we don't come out of the Nov election making it worse, by being conned and swayed with all of the propaganda. The deficit, government spending, "bigger government" and "liberal" efforts really haven't caused our problems (that is obvious when viewed rationally and objectively) ... but if too many people believe that propaganda, then we are very apt to be returned to "more of the same", Bush-Cheney style, and the actions that did cause the problems; i.e., a permissive, co-responsible government catering to "the few" (1%) while giving the majority (99%) only apathy, the costs and an abundance of subterfuge to con and manipulate. Our problems are the result of exploitation by the advantaged few, permitted and encouraged by politicians acting as "puppets" for "the few", who literally "pull the strings" and strongly support them.

                        While the deficit, uncontrolled spending and being too liberal are valid concerns, to be deceived that they are the current major problems is to be fooled into focusing in the wrong direction and to then allow "more of the same", which is at the real root of the problems: i.e., permissive government, excessive deregulation, no oversight, lax enforcement, privileged exploitation, putting political ambitions above all else, no bipartisan cooperation, faulting and blocking all efforts, politicians coerced and intimidated to force unity and to squelch individual consciences, “puppet” candidates ready to perform, SuperPacs and others using humungous funds to con and manipulate the public and the constant plain and simple lying to achieve selfish interests. Hopefully the voters can reject the deception, along with “the money’s" sponsored candidates.

                          Reply#65 - Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:12 PM EST

                          Rick Santorum is a fraud, he was rejected by the people of his own State his comment about giving African-Americans other peoples money is bs, the last time i checked my pay stub they took a hefty amount of money from my check in taxes, in case Mr. Santorum wakes up somebody tell him and Mr. Gingrich that welfare and food stamps were not created for African-Americans but for poor and middle class whites who fell on hard times during the Depression, most African-Americans were denied this benefit, such wedge rhetoric will not help him, he is also a religious hypocrite Jesus said you cannot serve two Masters either you serve God or the Devil and we all know the Political System is the Beast mentioned in the Bible.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#66 - Sat Feb 11, 2012 3:43 PM EST

                          Since stupid people gravitate toward conservatism, it explains why so many
                          Americans vote Lesser-evil Democrat. Although not all Conservatives are stupid, nearly all stupid people are Conservatives! Only in America would someone think that that "conservative" describes the neo-fascists currently running the Republican party in the USA.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#67 - Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:19 AM EST
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