2012 republican presidential nominee III: can romney get santorum out of his hair?

Little victories like this keep hope in the not-Romney die hards. It would be tragic if all the heart went out of the not-Romney movement. We must fan the embers of discontent.

Well, I guesss it shows you can win if you run against him. One thing I don't know is whether Santorum put the same amount of effort into these states as the "here all year" in Iowa. And of course Obama's going to run against Romney heavy - I liked the fact that 55,00 Republicans turned out in Colorado against 80,000 Democrats for an uncontested.

The Guardian basically reckoned that it was a victory for social issues conservatives, due to a) this is what happens when the economy improves and b) it has been a week for the issues being in people's minds: Prop 8, contraception, Komen vs Planned Parenthood. They also suggested that it might be in the best interests of the non-Romneys to sit down and figure out which of the states they are each going to effectively no-contest, to save on resources. Ron Paul wouldn't come, but they can divvy out states to a life-size cut-out, that works too.

The short version is the same as after South Carolina - all Romney has for a lot of the GOP is the ability to win elections if they hold their nose and vote for him. If he doesn't have that..

"to a life size cut out" lol

Herman Cain should just randomly start campaigning in places where primaries/caucuses have already happened

I think voting in the GOP primaries is down 20-25% from 2008 so far.

100% in the Dem primaries.

It's this:

2) Kane asserting his will to shape reality by giving something his approval

One site noted how problematic it is for Romney that he only wins when he focuses all his money, time and effort on one primary.

would be curious to know how much of a role anti-Newt Establishment $$$ played in Santorum's favor, even if Gingrich was not in the hunt last night.

vice president rick santorum

is Santorum physiologically capable of going off his own message for long enough to be someone's veep candidate?

you'd think so? like i assume having him in the room would be a bigger step up for his various dumbass causes than having him just barking at the moon

local media reporting that caucus attendance on the D side is up from '10

(local = MN)

all anecdotal from attendees, tho...

santorum would be a pretty crappy vp pick

I don't know, they might be able to mop up the social conservatives

yeah but you can do that w/ someone less boring

There were two dudes on the dais with Rick last night who were def. NOT finding him boring. They were hanging on every word of his speech like true believers, sorta teary eyed, nodding and affirming on the key lines like some sort of church revival meeting. (I'm sure this goes on at Dem caucuses, too, but these guys were just super-notable to me. Don't know who either of them are; one of them is partially obscured behind Rick's head, the other is blue shirted on the right.

http://20poundsofheadlines.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/santorum-wins-missouri.jpg

But the three victories for Mr. Santorum also place a fresh burden on him as he tries to swiftly build a structure to compete with Mr. Romney’s battled-tested campaign team. His aides predicted that the evening would bring an outpouring of financial support. He also may be able to expect more help from the “super PAC” that supports him, the Red, White and Blue Fund. Its leading benefactor, the mutual fund executive Foster Friess, was standing directly behind Mr. Santorum as he gave his victory speech.

Asked by e-mail whether he would invest more heavily in the super PAC, Mr. Friess wrote back, “With him doing so well tonight, he won’t need me!”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/us/politics/minnesota-colorado-missouri-caucuses.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

i.e., "no"

Foster Friess is to Santorum's right, I was looking behind his head. That guy got a lot of inadvertant camera time last night. No big deal, just curious.

http://content9.flixster.com/rtmovie/7_ori.jpg

man Santorum surging ... this is the lolziest GOP primary ever

Wolcott weighs in on Santorum's C-list:

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2012/01/Rick-Santorum-The-Grate-White-Hope

But Santorum said Wednesday that his campaign would compete hard in Michigan on Feb. 28 and in the March 6 “Super Tuesday” states. He said his campaign raised about $250,000 online Tuesday night but insisted that funding alone was not the key to the race.

this is a pathetic amount - is Santorum the only one without major financial backing?

yes

that's what santorum needs a CUMbomb

They had a graphic on CNN last night about how much ad money each campaign has spent so far. Romney's margin was ungodly--something like $23 million to five or six million for the next guy. This makes his current problems even more embarrassing.

money can only do so much

Money can't buy you love.

romney spent nothing on the airwaves in these three states

romney spent plenty on south carolina tho

Money changes everything. Unless you're Mitt Romney.

(True about these three states; I think Santorum spent the most in Minnesota, where Gingrich spent exactly zero dollars.)

this factoid comes ultimately from a politico church piece

http://www.politico.com/morningscore/0212/morningscore528.html

ABSENCE OF COMMERCIALS HELPED DOOM ROMNEY: For the first time in any of the early contests, Romney and his affiliated super PAC did not blanket the airwaves with ads. It may not be the only reason Romney won some of his races, but it certainly was a big one — and it helped in a paid media state like Florida.

im sure romney thought w/e santorums not gonna win all three no one will care move onto super tuesday

he coulda done better w/ ads, maybe even won colorado, but those other margins aren't things you can buy w/ ads

these were all non-binding on the delegates so more likely Romney just didn't give a fuck and figures he either a) doesn't need those delegates or b) can pick them up later in some kind of deal

primaries almost never abt the delegates

right

mitt romney is not doing any math

*sigh*

The poll shows that 53 percent of self-identified liberal Democrats — and 67 percent of moderate or conservative Democrats — support keeping Guantanamo Bay open, even though it emerged as a symbol of the post-Sept. 11 national security policies of George W. Bush, which many liberals bitterly opposed.

oops wrong thread

*sigh*

that's what santorum needs a CUMbomb

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz2zp42VeG1qa2rino1_400.gif

oh no fucking way

He's either doing what we think or miming sticking a knife into his campaign.

Santorum describes his plan to criminalize spilling of seed.

Funny you mention that...

he's saying that he really feels something in his gut

(the "something" is anal froth)

The previously mentioned Leon Wolf at RedState begins to realize something about all the candidates.