Riding the Republican Roller Coaster - Road to the White House - Election 2012 - Week Six
- Details
- Category: Beltway Insider
- Published on Sunday, 12 February 2012 11:25
- Written by Janet Walker
Rick Santorum, the former junior senator from Pennsylvania, emerged from underdog status this week with a stunning sweep and resounding victory in Tuesday’s all important three state GOP Presidential Nomination battle.
Mitt Romney, after his disappointing loss and poor showing in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota went on the defensive addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the dark horse and with a passionate, ‘I’m a defender of all things conservative’ speech, he came out ahead with a huge endorsement.
Romney, who entered in this hotly contested GOP presidential race as the man to beat, limped away from Tuesday loss badly damaged by the lack of voter confidence, as he captured less than half of Missouri’s votes with 25.3% trailing Santorum who captured a whopping 55.2% of the votes.
Even as the Missouri win for former Pennsylvania senator rick Santorum will not award those delegates to his tally, the belief is the states swing is in his favor. Texas Representative Ron Paul came in third with 12.2% and former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich a no show.
Colorado upset shook the Romney camp to its core as it was a state he handily won in 2008. Santorum took Colorado with 40% of the votes; Romney second with 35%, Newt Gingrich with 13% and Ron Paul with 12%.
Santorum continued his domination in Minnesota with another big lead win with 44.8% of the votes. Minnesota voters Texas Representative Ron Paul landed in second with 27.2% and Mitt Romney a distant third with 16.9% of the votes; Newt Gingrich ended fourth with 10.7% of the votes.
By week’s end the Romney machine had regrouped and won Saturday’s Maine Caucus with 39% of the votes, Ron Paul second with 36%, Rick Santorum a distant third, 18% and Newt Gingrich with 6% of the votes.
Romney may have gained the all-important CPAC backing but the voter’s confidence has still yet to solidify him as the GOP’s designate nominee. Rick Santorum could be the Hillary Clinton of the Republican Party, qualified, with a message that resonates with voters able to divide and conquer if given a chance but just enough outside mainstream that final decisions come down to unknown variables and Super Delegates.
The next GOP Primaries, Arizona and Michigan, will be held on February 28; Washington States caucus vote on March 3 followed by the all important Super Tuesday, March 6 when Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia. Of those states, Rick Santorum will not be on the Ballot in only one, Virginia.
Where does it leave Santorum, Paul and Gingrich? Continuing their fight for recognition and garnering enough of the eventual tally that their messages must be heard and addressed. With Super Tuesday less than a month away and ten states up for grabs, his future and party strength will be determined after that day.
The 2012 Delegate Tracker has Mitt Romney with a slight lead at 123 over Santorum coming in second with 72, Newt Gingrich is third with 32 and Ron Paul fourth with 19 delegates toward the 1,144 needed to secure the Republican Nomination for President.
