Polls: Santorum leads by nine in Minnesota, by 13 in Missouri
Rick Santorum could be headed for a big day in today’s contests in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. Missouri looks like a probable win for Santorum. He’s at 45% there to 32% for Mitt Romney and 19% for Paul. Minnesota provides an opportunity for a win as well. Currently he has a small advantage with 33% to 24% for Romney, 22% for Newt Gingrich, and 20% for Ron Paul. And Santorum should get a second place finish in Colorado, where Romney appears to be the likely winner. The standings there are Romney at 37%, Santorum at 27%, Gingrich at 21%, and Paul at 13%.
Santorum’s personal popularity is the main reason for his sudden reemergence as a relevant player in the GOP race. In all 3 of these states his favorability is over 70%- 74/17 in Minnesota, 72/17 in Missouri, and 71/19 in Colorado. He’s far better liked than his main opponents- Romney’s favorability is 47-60% in those states and Gingrich’s is 47-48%. While Romney and Gingrich have hammered each other in recents weeks Santorum’s been largely left alone and he’s benefiting from that now.
There are three groups Santorum’s winning in all three of these states: Tea Partiers, Evangelicals, and those describing themselves as ‘very conservative.’
Blowback
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CorporatePiggy: keep the faith and keep the votes away from Romney! Go Santorum!
Pragmatic on February 7, 2012 at 8:36 AM
I credit the Ed Morrissey endorsement. Certainly means more than a John McCain endorsement.
beatcanvas on February 7, 2012 at 8:38 AM
For me to be pouting, I’d have to pulling for another candidate. I’m not.
And I’m being honest in my assessment of Santorum. If that’s insulting and unflattering to him, that’s too bad.
If it would make you feel better, I could lie and say nice things about him.
DRayRaven on February 7, 2012 at 8:39 AM
Santorum took it to Willard on Romneycare, and he can take it to Obama on Obamacare.
To me, the top two social issues are:
1) No gay marriage
2) End all racial preferences and quotas.
Is that too harsh for America? Not at all. California approved #1 at the polls when they approved Proposition 8. The Supreme Court moved partly toward #2 in Gratz v. Bollinger (2003).
Emperor Norton on February 7, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Try rereading the posts. You’re the one posting links to Ed Schultz and seem to listen to what he has to say. It should be obvious that Ed refers to Ed Morrissey seeing as how this is his site and he just came out with his endorsement of Santorum a couple of days ago.
Flange on February 7, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Rick has a BA, an MBA and a JD. Why play into the Democratic meme that Republicans are stupid, crazy and/or racist? Disagree with his policies all you want but stop insulting his and our intelligence.
Fallon on February 7, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Go Santorum Go! His nomination will make this election entirely about abortion and gay marriage, the national tide on those issues is trending to the left. This election could be a major victory for social liberals. Economic liberals will be out of luck, but no one wants to elect a Christian fundamentalist. This is kind of amazing. Go Santorum!!
libfreeordie on February 7, 2012 at 8:56 AM
Americans reject your perverse values and continue to do so despite decades of “trending to the left” which never happens. You people are obsessed with Gay Marriage in particular and Santorum should be able to shrug off that issue as NOT important when people have no jobs.
Daemonocracy on February 7, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Ugh. Santorum would make a horrible nominee. Little national organization, no funding, and stances on social issues that will make indies cringe. Plus, he’s never governed anything…haven’t we seen enough when legislators try to play President?
What a horrible election cycle this is.
changer1701 on February 7, 2012 at 9:18 AM
It is one poll and the vetting of Santorum is just beginning. Romney wont come after him too hard because Santorum is best as a way to keep Gingrich distracted.
csdeven on February 7, 2012 at 9:19 AM
UGHH! Romney, the Democrat would be a repugnant Republican nominee. . .the Father of Obamacare . . .what a horrible disgusting joke!
Pragmatic on February 7, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Well, I partly agree with something you have said. Scary…but I have thought for a long time now that this is going to be an election on morality and will determine the survival of the country. Dramatic? Yes, very. I believe we have been given the last 40 years as a warning period. We have thrown God out of the public square, chosen death for millions of innocent lives…our time is running out. I do not think it is a coincidence that the 40th anniversary of Roe V Wade will come within days of the next innauguration. I do not think it is a coincidence that homosexual ‘marriage’ is being forced on us and that more people are consenting to it now at the end of this 40 year period. I believe Romans 1 is every bit as much about us as it ever was another civilization.
The Founding Fathers placed their reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. It is running out. It is time for the country to have a clear choice. Are we going to be a godly and moral people or are we going to be libertines? Santorum vs Obama is about as clear as the choice can get.
I set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life, so that you and your seed may live.
pannw on February 7, 2012 at 9:23 AM
Yeah…I’m supposed to be OK with the constant insults hurled Perry’s way, but walk on eggshells when it comes to Santorum and ignore the fact that he comes across like a immature doofus in the debates. Gotcha.
Let me tell you something: I lived with the guy as my Senator, I’ve met him several times, and I’m here to tell you: Santorum is not very bright.
Besides, hauling out someone’s academic background as evidence of their intelligence is something Democrats do for demonstrable nitwits like Al Gore and Barack Obama. Maybe you should stop using leftist memes.
DRayRaven on February 7, 2012 at 9:29 AM
So, you’re asserting that there isn’t one nice thing you could say about him?
Yeah, ok.
Ease up on the melodrama, champ.
fossten on February 7, 2012 at 9:33 AM
For a guy who’s supposedly not very bright, he’s done a good job articulating a defense of moral principles grounded in natural law. Aside from Gingrich, I haven’t seen anyone provide as many explicit policy details in the debates either.
Stoic Patriot on February 7, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Not for much longer…
cicerone on February 7, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Santorum and Gingrich are Roman Catholics, not Christian fundamentalists.
Romney is a Mormon, so it’s not clear if he’s even a Christian.
So it looks like you’re safe.
Emperor Norton on February 7, 2012 at 9:41 AM
If he were a bright guy, he’d know that defending moral principles is a job for communities, churches, and individuals, not the federal government. But I guess overreaching your constitutional boundries is OK so long as you’re doing so to impose the “right” values on people.
I’m not being melodramatic. It’s other people who are pissing themselves over someone criticising their chosen candidate. Maybe they should ease up.
But I’ll say something nice about him if it will make you happy. Santorum’s family is a credit to the man as a husband and a father. But that doesn’t mean I want him to be President.
DRayRaven on February 7, 2012 at 9:44 AM
And that is why Mitt will never get my vote , he will not tell us how good he is , no he will spend millions to tell us how bad the other guy is, so much for a business manager that uses money effectivly.
evergreenland on February 7, 2012 at 9:44 AM
That’s not a mark against him on anything to do with his intelligence. You’re substituting “I disagree with him politically” with “he is stupid.” The Constitution ain’t flawless, and I happen to agree with him in referencing Lincoln when he said that the 10th amendment doesn’t give you the right to do wrong.
Stoic Patriot on February 7, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Hmm…distinction without a difference? I mean, isn’t “Christian fundamentalist” just the progressive’s code for anti-gay and anti-abortion?
Knott Buyinit on February 7, 2012 at 9:50 AM
The 10th amendment doesn’t give the federal government permission to interfere, either.
My estimation of his intelligence isn’t based on policy so much as it is having met the man several times, in addition to watching his debate performances.
Look Sean Hannity can quote standard conservative dogma better than Santorum, but that alone doesn’t make any of them smart. It doesn’t mean either of them have actually thought anything through on their own. They’re just good at reciting the party line, and that’s it.
DRayRaven on February 7, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Then cite something from the debates or your personal experience.
Stoic Patriot on February 7, 2012 at 10:05 AM
I don’t have any 57-state moments to pass along. It’s just that when he’s pressed, he falls back on standard lines that are broadly acceptable to social conservatives. I have never gotten the impression in person or on television that Santorum has ever thought these issues through himself on any kind of deep level. His philosophy is as superficial and shallow as it can be, despite its being deeply held.
It doesn’t help when he gets a confused look on his face when someone says something he disagrees with. I honestly don’t think it computes with him that anyone could be reasonable and disagree with the standard conservative GOP talking points as expressed by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. And cribbing phrases from teenagers doesn’t do much, either. Not to mention calling himself a “Democrat killer” when he lost his last race by nearly 18 points because he cared more about Teri Schaivo and abortion than the fiscal issues facing our government. Of course, in that last one, he’s hardly alone.
In short, he’s not an independent thinker. And I don’t think he’s very smart.
DRayRaven on February 7, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Santorum is an absolute idiot. The idea that we would ever nominate this guy is absurd. ABSURD. He got LAUGHED out of the United States Senate by Bob Casey.
This country needs jobs. Santorum is just going to talk about homosexuals, abortion and other social issues during the fall campaign. This guy is a national laughing stock, and we all know it. His behavior during the Terri Schiavo affair was absolutely absurd. It completely destroys his argument against big government. He’s a big government religious conservative.
The age of the Religious Right picking our nominees is over. Deal with it.
Cordell on February 7, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Really? That’s all he is going to talk about? Even though he has highlighted cutting taxes, especially for the working class manufacturing sector, and gone out of his wary to warn about Iran through the primary season? He also has given the best deconstructing of Romneycare out of all the candidates. His campaign isn’t even about gays or abortion right now, yet you assume it will be all about that in the general?
I have serious issues with Santorum: he is not likeable, he was a porker in congress, he endorsed Specter over Toomey, his tax plan is the most underwhelming next to Romney’s, but at least it would appeal to a massive blue collar vote. When he isn’t sneering at his opponents, he can be quite articulate in putting his points forth.
Daemonocracy on February 7, 2012 at 10:47 AM
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