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Jim Young / Reuters
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum addresses supporters at his "Super Tuesday" primary election night rally in Steubenville, Ohio, March 6, 2012.
Rick Santorum's long-term campaign strategy is to upend the trajectory of the GOP primary, and snatch the Republican presidential nomination away from Mitt Romney.
But his more pressing, immediate concern involves winning on Saturday in Kansas, and on Tuesday in Alabama and Mississippi, by which he could finally push Newt Gingrich out of the race.
Santorum would still face long odds to become the Republican nominee, but any march to Tampa would be less impeded if Newt Gingrich were to exit. But the former speaker has suggested he won’t voluntarily drop out of the race before Tuesday, but by describing both contests as “must-win” affairs, he opened the door to being forced out by virtue of a loss in either state.
"The ability for conservatives to win the Republican nomination is greatly diminished by Gingrich in the race," said Stuart Roy, an adviser to the Red, White and Blue Fund, a pro-Santorum super PAC. "That's why we're investing in Mississippi and Alabama. We can win, and a win in either state would show the need for Gingrich to leave."
To that end, the super PAC went on air with ad buys in both Mississippi and Alabama totaling more than a combined $1 million. Their spot goes after both Gingrich and Romney, whose numbers with Republicans in both states are judged to be, at a minimum, positive enough that he might be able to squeak by in one of the contests if his campaign were to compete aggressively.
Santorum seems to understand the importance of these states, which fall in the immediate wake of Super Tuesday.
"We have to do well in Kansas -- no, we have to win in Kansas, and win big," he said during a speech on Wednesday afternoon in Lenexa.
And he alluded to the need to dispatch Gingrich in a speech last night in Mississippi. "If we win Mississippi, this will be a two-person race," Santorum told supporters in Jackson. "And if it is a two-person race, we will nominate a conservative as president of the United States."
In many ways, Romney has been the beneficiary of a not having had to face a single opponent during the primary who managed to rally conservatives. Gingrich and Santorum each traded opportunities as the chief conservative candidate, a fight which has allowed Romney to accrue a sizable enough delegate advantage that his campaign is now beginning to argue that he’s Romney is the inevitable Republican nominee.
Polls of two of the most competitive Super Tuesday states belie the argument that, if Gingrich were out of the race, Santorum might have enough support to beat Romney. The former Massachusetts governor won 43 "somewhat conservative" voters in the Ohio primary, but if Santorum's 33 percent share and Gingrich's 16 percent share were combined, Santorum would have the advantage. If Santorum and Gingrich were to add even together their share of the "moderate" vote in Ohio, they would have only trailed Romney by 2 percent in Ohio among moderates, who made up 1 in 5 Ohio primary voters.
And in Tennessee, a state which Santorum won but all three major candidates contested, just 43 percent of primary voters saw Romney as the candidate best suited to beat President Barack Obama in November. The voters apparently unconvinced of Romney's electability split between Santorum (25 percent) and Gingrich (21 percent).
That's all to assume, though, that Santorum would automatically inherit Gingrich voters if the former speaker were to leave the race. And it isn't clear, either, that Gingrich would necessarily offer his endorsement to Santorum -- a gesture that would presumably goad supporters of Gingrich to filter their energy his way.
Of course, any focus by Santorum to knock out Gingrich on Tuesday would be scuttled if both of them lose to Romney. A poll of likely voters in Tuesday's primary found Santorum leading, at 22.7 percent, followed by Romney at 18.7 percent and Gingrich at 13.8 percent. The Alabama State University poll was conducted, though, before Super Tuesday, and has a 4.4 percent margin of error.
Adding to that is the strategy pursued by a pro-Romney super PAC, which has not let up in its attacks against Santorum in advertising for Tuesday's two primaries.
That may be because Romney supporters view a divided conservative base as beneficial, at least until they can manage a stranglehold on the nomination.
"If he wins both states, he may well stay around," Roy said of Gingrich and the Tuesday states, highlighting the importance for Santorum in drawing the race into a one-on-one showdown against Romney come next Wednesday.
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If he does manage to knock out Gingrich, he just may take the nomination. The problem is that Newt has a billionaire buddy propping him up with his super pac, and he will run as long as the money holds out. Newt's ego won't allow him to do anything else.
You read my mind.
Yeah, substitute a NUT (Santorum) for a CROOK (Blingrich)...
How bout they both just drop out?? Then everyone wins!
It will be interesting to see what block prevails in the south -- the Redneck Haters for Gingrich versus the Evangelical Fundmentalists for Santorum. We already know the richest 5% will vote for Romeny no matter what state it is.
If Santorum looks unable to overtake Romney, my guess is the Adelsons will pull their funding from Gingrich. They just wanted to make sure Romney leads over Santorum, and after the southern states have voted, there will be no more success for Gingrich.
As for the complete waste of massive money during times when so many are suffering, you can thank the Bush appointments to the right-leaning SCOTUS that brought us the plague of Citizen's United. Throw the Teapublicans out, stop any further far-right appointments to the courts -- Obama/Biden - 2012!
But his more pressing, immediate concern involves winning on Saturday in Kansas, and on Tuesday in Alabama and Mississippi, by which he could finally push Newt Gingrich out of the race.
How can we make sure that both of them just go away? We are TIRED of sanctimonious rhetoric. However, it is likely that he will win Mississippi...Many people there consider Democrats the "devil"and are waiting for the Messiah Santorum to save them....Poor ignorant souls...pathetic!
What Newt is doing is precisely what actually got him tossed in the House in 1997. Newt is forcing Rick to do thisThe only polls I've seen are Alabama, and both have Santorum ahead of Newt. I have also heard some people in the know say that Santorum numbers in Kansas are good for a win. So far Santorum is being a gentleman about it.
"Gingrich should kick this little dirt Santorum in the ass, the guy is beyond a loser"
The Gulf states (FLA already) are little higher class and will probably not vote Blingrich...
Hummmm, you seem to be missing a small item...all of these presidential want to be are wealthy....BUying people or votes..or whatever does not mean any one iof these guys is qualified to be president. It is strange to me that for all the complaining they are doing about Obama..not one has really come up with any real ideas on job creation...cutting taxes for their wealthy friends they all want..why not..they will be ones to benefit from it. Noen of these gys has been able so far to tell the truth on anythiong...they are very good at handing out huge lines that stretch the truth till it breaks. And as for Romney..he is on both sides of everything..it is just a matter of what day you catch him,.
"Newt is a Pig & Santorum is a Wacko" Graham is praying for them ?
Hey ivan #1.8, Oil your Keys ?
In a small way, I would love to see the GOP primary battle it out between Pope Ricky and Mittens. May the most crazy win !!!!
All three of them are jerks and all have been abandoned by the GOP establishment knowing full well that none of them or for that matter anyone on the sidelines has any chance of defeating Obama...they are just trying to hold on to their congressional seats....that is where the big lobbying money goes to and where the real danger lies for the GOP.....the overwhelming majority of polls show the voters absolute dissatisfaction with Congress to be at an all-time high and getting worse by the day.
But you got to admit that the longer the GOP nomination takes the less people like them. Not to mention the tons of fodder that they are just handing Obama to use in the general election.
And this makes for a great entertainment, the GOP debates are better then any reality TV show.
(popcorn anyone i got extra)
annoyed....spot on target.....let the show go on.
Big time fail for the headline writer. A knockout by Santorum? Are you kidding?
How about: "I'll scratch Newt's eyes out!" "Newt makes me so mad, I could just spit." "Rick to Newt - 'I'm the most conservative Catholic on Earth.'"
Akron, I have yet to see you give a reason to vote for Santorum. I have demanded this constantly from you. Give me a reason now that isn't "Obama sucks".
Mr. Anon i have yet to see any good reason to vote republican. so i wouldn't hold your breath for any
have you noticed how people always tend to repeat the same thing over and over again. tends to give me the impression that they are mindless robots with no will of there own (kinda sad to think that people can't think for themselves anymore)
Santorum focuses on Gingrich huh? Gwaddamn! Talk about lunacy on ugly! Gwad!, I'm glad the technology hasn't advanced to a "smellernet yet!
Yank in Australia
Look again. The Moderate establishment is trying to prop up Romney. Yet, Romney can't seem to shake Santorum.
The Conservative (so they say) Establishment is trying to prop up Gingrich - He's stuck in third and just about out.
Meanwhile Rick Dangerfield Santorum keeps moving forward.
From the Huffington Post, a revealing look at Santorum's views on women, as expressed in his Pennsylvania senatorial campaign:
Yikes!
Hey kaybeetoys 1.20
Look at Obamas view of all white people.. "they would sell the blacks to aliens to get unlimted energy" Space Traders. Derrick Bell
"Open your hearts and minds to what this man has to say" Obama
Yikes!!!!
Skipped your meds this morning, Mike?
Santorum / Bachmann "Endorsed by the Tea Retards" ( Two Wraths )
DB Akron, can you PLEASE address my post? I have directly asked you this several times. If you ignore this again, I'll just conclude that Santorum supporters have no reason at all to support him.
Newt will not leave until all of the Pac money is gone. He's living it up with his wife on the trail on Pac dollars. Would not be surprised if Romney Pac money is going to Newt as a carrot to stay longer.
PTNY - doubt it - there just are too many eyes to pull something shady.
"D=Dumb & B=Bagger", Now that's Cool !
" ... PTNY - doubt it - there just are too many eyes to pull something shady. ... "
There's nothing shady about it. You can't ask where the money came from. And you can't ask where it went. There is nothing, NOTHING to prevent it from happening.
And it is all brought to you by Citizens United and the SCotUS. You have to love those Right-wing Activist Judges that sit on it. But hey. It's what the Right wanted. And you need to be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. So let's everyone send thank you notes to G.W. Bush for a job well done.
The Right wanted a F'd-up country and now they have it. Thank you very much!
Santorum hangs in there for the same reason: $$$$$$$$$$$
No way Santorum gets my vote with his Evangelical base wanting us to go to war with Iran. No wonder Pat Robinson wants to legalize pot his supply is low for his followers.
I heard Newt was going to ask for Security detail. Guess this either makes him feel important and or wants it just to bug the others.
Newt asked, requests usually are an indication of an some incident or several incidents that have occurred. Details as to why are not disclosed, but approval occurs if the Secret Service agrees. Santorum asked and received protection because of an incident with occupy wall street protester's - who have been known to get violent.
Santorum's afraid of another glitter bomb.
I heard Newt was going to ask for Security detail. Guess this either makes him feel important and or wants it just to bug the others.
Down goes Gingrich! Down goes Gingrich! Down goes Gingrich!
Mark in SoCal
Down goes Gingrich! Down goes Gingrich! Down goes Gingrich!
When you think about Ricky's frothy mouth that is enough to make any one fall out. When Ricky looks at Newt's melon head and the lies coming from Newt's mouth that's more than ample reason to puke his guts out.
Beverly,
Gross!!!!
I was working the boxing/ knockout metaphor here, making reference to Howard Cosell's famous call during the Foreman-Frazier fight.
The good folks in Mississippi had enough sense to vote down the Personhood law.
I wonder if Lil Ricky knows that or will he wander into the fog of it when he opens his mouth.
All these republicans are so tough, they are going to save the world from Iran. All this from a bunch of wimps who can't even stand up to Rush.
What's more I don't think they want to because degrading all women into sluts is perfect when your plan is to make women into second class citizens so the republican taliban can take over women's productive rights.
Religious freedom apparently now means to the republicans that religions now have the freedom to push their beliefs on you. State mandated rape is just fine as long it is for their religion.
Sadly it doesn't matter who wins as the republicans plans are the same. Every candidate has signed a new pledge now. It is the person-hood pledge. The candidates pledges to end Roe v Wade along with eliminating women's right to choose and making most birth control illegal. Along with that pledge it then makes a miscarriage a murder investigation. It then creates a huge government as they now have to monitor each and every pregnancy to make sure their republican taliban laws are not broken.
While they all may try and move to the center you can't forget this is their signed pledged plan. You know how republicans love to sign pledges no matter how bad the pledge is for America.
For the American you love, Obama/Biden 2012
All these republicans are so tough, they are going to save the world from Iran. All this from a bunch of wimps who can't even stand up to Rush.
They kiss the "ring"of Limbaugh and are terrified of Grover Norquist...You are right...talk is cheap...all those with a desire to go to WAR should start wearing the uniform.
All those "militias" that are trying to shoot cops and other Government officials should be sent to war WITHOUT PAY...They think THAT war is a game...MORONS MORONS MORONS
Why should they stand up to Rush when Rush is fighting the good fight. Liberals like the Stalinists they are do not believe in the 1st Amendment for anyone other than themselves.
I encourage all who believe in the 1st Amendment to go to http://www.istandwithrush.org/ and show your support of Rush and the 1st Amendment. Even Bill Maher came out and said that liberals were acting wrong in trying to silence Rush.
Larry Robinson-1323081
Larry, aren't you a little hypocrite. If Rush has the right to speak because of the 1st Amendment, the Liberals have the right to comment on what they think about Rush's speech, don't you think? This liberty thing works both ways. Why are you silencing the other side - don't they have the same right????
By the way, if you are saying something you trully believe in (like Sandra Fluke is a prostitue) you stick by it. You don't "change" your mind just because the cash might stop coming in. The only reason Limpballs apologized was because of sponsors (=cash) so don't give me this crap about Freedom of Speech.
By the way #2, if you are going to excercise the Freedom of Speech, please make sure that you use it to tell the truth because it's a crime - it's called defamation or libel in this case! Sandra Fluke is not a prostitute or a slut.
Santorum...Really
If you vote for a Dumb-ass...what does that say about you
Larry Robinson--I am repeating myself but Limbaugh does not believe most of what he says but knows he has to throw red meat to his fans. ratings equal money. There were 3 or 4 liberal friends at his 3rd or 4th wedding.
who cares about these corporate puppets? if romney grew a sack id have more respect for him. instead its the same ole greedy GOP with grover norquist in the background pulling the strings. time to vote every deluded retardicant traitor out and maybe we can then get some work done in congress.
These corporate puppets are controling OUR government, they have the economy in a choke hold and they refuse to compromise with the president.
"Corporate puppets are the tea retards destroying our Country"
I would really like to hope the Republicans are smarter than to give Santorum the nomination but nothing this nucking futs party does suprises me anymore. It is however pretty darn presumptious of Mr Santorum to think if Gingrich dropped out he would get those votes or the Gingrich would endorse him. The only people who think highly of Santorum are the evangelicals and extreme conservatives and quite frankly despite their rabidity there are not enough of them to propel him to a win over Obama. Santorum didn't even get the Catholic vote on Tuesday because they all know he is crazy.
If only you people knew what's been going on for at least a century! ALL 'mainstream" candidates MUST be APPROVED by the CFR... BOTH SIDES!! The Rockefellers set this up for the Rothschilds (with other super wealthy) to ASSURE a ONE PARTY SYSTEM in the corporate U.S.A. If people do not wake up and act we are DOOMED...both parties are a fraud wake up!
both parties are a fraud wake up!
We are awake...On the other hand, you should stop having "dreams"of having people unite to your cause by just saying "wake up"
Santorum is in serious denial. First for thinking Gingrich is going to buckle under for him and perhaps worse; his failure to understand the math on the delegates. For Santorum to capture the numbers needed is impossible and this problem only compounds itself once he is required to compete outside of the south where his ideologue rhetoric will be discounted faster than week old bread.
Gingrich losses in Alabama and Mississippi would end it for Gingrich.
Here's the actual math.
Romney needs to capture 48% of the remaining Delegates. He has to do that with Ron Paul bleeding off 5% of the total.
Together Gingrich, Santorum and Paul will keep this from happening.
Santorum needs 65% of the remaining Delegates to Clinch - With Gingrich out of the way, he can do it. (that is the about the percentage of conservatives in the Republican party).
Gingrich needs 70% of the Remaining Delegates. This is not impossible, but much harder seeing his numbers are week in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, and California. States that Santorum is much more competitive than Gingrich is. There are only two states that Gingrich is strong in that Santorum is weak in.
Gingrich is the one that needs to go.
Gingrich is the one in denial.
Keep dreaming !
Why does Rick hate his psychologist father?
Maybe because his father was supposed to be "blue-collar"...... lol
These polls keep coming out about Santorum but I have a hard time believing them.
From Bachmann to Perry to Cain to Newt at some point or another the non-Romney candidate has had some backers on this vine.
I have yet to read one post endorsing anything about Santorum.
If you are out there and particularly if you are female could you please edify me as to why you think Santorum is a good candidate??
The only votes Santorum gets are the radical Christians who are so ignorant and backwards they believe evolution is a MYTH and God honestly put dinosaur bones in the ground to test their faith
William - that's because you have gravitated to people who think just as you do. You are limiting yourself to one set of opinions that could actually in the minority. Do yourself a favor and shut this site off for about 6 - 8 week and give Fox that exclusive time. Don't go there to judge, just listen, go on the blogs and ask questions. When you come back, you may be better able to separate opinion from facts.
I spend most of my time on MSN. Many of the facts in stories are here, but are just loaded with overblown opinions of what the facts offered really mean.
Joe, You would be shocked at how many Christians agree with parts of Darwins theory - usually in the form of addaption. The 'Science" has a lot of work to prove evolution, because different animal DNA's usually do not produce a superior life form, and most often additional dna information or missing dna information means no reproduction. What you will find is that the different throught the visual animal gyration to man the pairs of chromosomes jump up and down in quantities, and Humans seem to have less than even most species of Apes.
I'm not going to say it can't happen, but who knows.
that's right '' sent to roam '', get that pesky republican conservative '' WALKING SEX ACT '' out of your way ''son'' !!
One wonders if "Sanitorium Santorum's" very vengful God will help him in his mission??
Well looks like Mr. Santorum is ready to make a last and final push to win the nomination out of Mr. Romney's hands, I would love to see that direct debate between Mr. Romney and Mr. Santorum one on one but Ron Paul isn't going anywhere so it's still going to be three men in the race until the convention no matter what Mr. Santorum says.
Rick will have to do a lot of back pedalling if he wants the women of America to vote for him. His wife may be the sweet kind of lady that obeys her husband - but he doesn't realize it yet, but women have come a long way and do not sit still and obey their husbands> They actually think for themselves. So he is in for a big surprise.
"Ricky boy made a big mistake picking on the Lady's, that's going to cost him big time"
Santorum At It Again, Romney Wallows in Sorrow, Paul Reads Economics Textbook: A Look Back at Super Tuesday -
No matter whom the nominee is the Republicans don't have the imagination to win the White House. They can only argue even among themselves. I voted for McCain and I'd vote for Romney but I won't vote for Santorum. I'd vote for Paul first.
When you actually look closely at this picture, you get an eerie feeling don't you.
Santorum is a scary thought for President let alone the nomination.
When you actually look closely at this picture, you get an eerie feeling don't you.
Santorum is a scary thought for President let alone the nomination.
And yet, he is winning big...He is playing the "I am your savior from those demonic liberals" card.
Has been played before. Karl Rove is behind him on this one. PLEASE VOTE DEMOCRAT. THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF THE GOP WINING THIS ELECTIONS by using "scare tactics"
Don't let Santorum fool you.
I agree. Santorum is attacking some basic Americanisms here... and getting way with it!!!
Oh well...there's always 2016 for the Republicans. I really can't see them getting it together enough to win an election this year.
While the conventional wisdom is that Newt will drop out after big losses, he will not go anywhere, even if he loses these states. He has deep pockets and will in the race in order to cause lots of trouble at the convention. He hopes for a brokered convention. Unfortunately for him, his ego is bigger than his gas-balloon-sized head, thus not allowing him to think clearly like a normal person. I doubt he can win the nomination even in a brokered convention. Get the nets...
Here's the deal. The two sugar daddy's behind the gop candidates made up their minds a long time ago that they and the rest of the GOP did NOT want Mitt Romney. So spend money,prop up the flavor of the week,take this thing to a convention,and then....the one they both wanted all along will emerge. Hello SARAH. No vettingt,no debates....until Obama,and they are just hoping and crossing their tea bag fingers that somehow there are enough morons out there,they have a better shot than with MITT. I am telling you,this is what Citizens United created. Why do you think the Palins are backing Newt...DELEGATES BABY !!!
Ditto Heads just crack me up...They get the jockey shorts all bound up...Visualization of this is pretty hilarious.. Calm down,Grasshoppers..Take a deep breath,it can create miracles .
Better birth control means fewer abortions.
like birth control bombs from Iran
Lets see the Republickems all think big business is their shot at the good life. Yes yes makes perfect sense that the unthinking fool type righties would have that as their dream because they've been believing the hype all their lives and they're not quite smart enough to figure it out.
Romney made money by and lots of it, well of course he and his partners were all "family" rich types who decided to start an "investment" company, by tricking infusing huge amouts of money into companies then telling investors look at how well the company is doing then when the dollars came in they took huge bonuses and then let the companies fail. Along with this came the loss of jobs, lots of jobs, and then he and his buddies sold the remains for more cash. They are called corporate raiders for a reason.
But all along they tell the workers to take concessions in pay, in benifits, and everything else and then bam the hammer falls and the fat cats walk off with their millions. But the right winger Tea drinkers are sure some day one of the multi multi rich one percenters is going to call them and give them a job. The only job you're gonna get is washing their cars. What fools you are.