Poll: Santorum Leads Romney Nationally by Eight Points

[Hissyspit]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/19/poll-santorum-leads-romney-nationwide-by-eight-points

Poll: Santorum leads Romney nationwide by eight points

Posted at 4:27 pm by: CNN's Ashley Killough

(CNN) — The latest results from Gallup’s daily tracking poll indicate Rick Santorum has overtaken Mitt Romney nationwide and now leads the former Massachusetts governor by an eight-point margin.

According to the poll released Sunday, 36% of registered Republicans said they are backing Santorum, while 28% prefer Romney.

The new numbers represent a five-point drop for Romney since Wednesday, when the candidate was statistically tied with his opponent, 33% to 31%. Meanwhile, Santorum has jumped five points in the same time period.

- snip -

Romney’s campaign, as well as a super PAC supporting his candidacy, have since taken a visible turn in strategy, attacking the surging candidate through surrogates, interviews and ads.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I think KKKarl Rove already knows about this.

This is what his droppings look like these days:

[Worried senior]

2. He scares me

[TBF]

3. Looks like the baggers have found their candidate. nt

[existentialist]

10. Actually probably not

I read one column where as anonymous prominent Republican was quoted sarcasticly stating about Santorum:

"Oh great, and socially radical conservative and a big spender."

Santorum has surged now because he is little known. He will be attacked now,and his record (as somewhat of a big spender, and definitely an earmarker) will come to light, just as the thoroughly stupid things that he has been saying the last several days are beginning to come to light.

The socially radical conservative may not dampen teabagger enthusiam much directly, but the spender and earmarker histoy will, and the "socially radical conservative" will drain support from the establishment Republicans.

This mudfight gets more interesting all the time, and it is Obama and Democrats generally that are benefitting.

[TBF]

17. One can dream ...

I loved his statement about Government not being able to force you to pay for something that violates your beliefs.

I figure he's gonna refund a lot of tax dollars for me because war violates my beliefs.

[caseymoz]

24. Sanatorum can't go down that easily.

That would be the last NotRomney, wouldn't it?

It's not like conservative voters have anyone left. The circular firing squad has spoken. It's now down to a Russian Roulette finals contest between Sanatorum and Romney.

[existentialist]

26. One would think, but

Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul continue to campaign.

[caseymoz]

34. Just from sure ego they continue

But they don't have another surge (or in Paul's case, a first one) left in them. And even if I'm wrong about that, if they do, they'll show the same dickishness that they did at first glance.

[nxylas]

30. The earmarking thing will only be an issue if Santorum loses

The teabaggers will overlook it in order to get him the nomination, and then when his popularity plummets, as I expect it will once the primaries are over and the Presidential campaign begins in earnest, they will turn on him and say that it was because he wasn't conservative enough. Like all true believers, their ideology can never fail, it can only be failed.

[David__77]

4. Mitt Romney, meet Richard Riordan and Rudy Giuliani...

I'm sure you all can comfort each other after you drop out.

[eyewall]

5. Either one would be a nightmare.

[underpants]

6. See! I told you there was a God!

[NeoConsSuck]

7. This is going to be 1964 all over again...

In fact, I think Santorum will do worse than Goldwater.

[Knight Hawk]

9. Don't look too good or................

talk to wise as Kipling wrote a hundred years ago.I was there and voted in 1964.This is not 1964.Santorium would MOST likely win Al.Ga,Ms,La,SO CAR,Texas.Because of his Pa roots,sowewhat populist"blue collar" demeanor and being a Roman Catholic Italian American ,he will have a shot at Pa.Ohio .Probably get Az also.Many of the Far west states Wyo,Idaho,.OK and Utah for sure.Goldwater got 5 states...............maybe 6.

[existentialist]

12. If I remember correctly (I was 10 at the time)

Goldwater carried Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia (maybe South Carolina too).

I guess that it would be easy enough to check.

Just checked, it was indeed Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.

[Art_from_Ark]

21. Thanks for that information

I hadn't realized that most of the Goldwater states were in the Deep South. I had always thought that the South was still solidly Democratic during that time, so that information was an eye-opener.

[Art_from_Ark]

52. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965

And the White South voted for Carter in 1976.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. He has 0 chance in PA

He is neither from here nor did he hardly live here most of the time while in office - including refusing to even educate his children here, yet still taking my PA tax money to pay himself for his kids' education anyway. And although he was Senator here, he was removed from office in 2006 by voters choosing Casey by 18% over this psychotic freak. That was supposedly the largest loss by any incumbent Senator in history.

The more his ego gets stroked by the media that insists on legitimizing him, the more psychobabble he spews.

[harun]

46. As a PA resident I whole heartily agree!

[INdemo]

41. We used paper ballots then....

[NOI4I]

8. So far, it's voletile

The Unpredictable.

[radiclib]

11. Santorum will never be nominated

Even if he sweeps the remaining primaries, he has no shot. The party will rig a brokered convention, and someone like Christie, or maybe even Jebbie, will emerge. Believe me. Ricky has no chance. It will not be permitted.

[Kingofalldems]

13. GOP fat cats will not let Santorum on any ticket

+1

[existentialist]

14. You're probably right, but

the infighting necessary to prevent his nomination would severely fracture the Republican Party.

There are many diehards who believe, and will continue to believe, that only a radical conservative can win.

They will be embittered and very angry if they perceive establishment Republications stepping in to take the nomination away from Santorum.

[radiclib]

15. Yup!

[babylonsister]

16. They're already fractured. It's a lose/lose. They got nothing and nobody.

I actually wish there was a viable candidate, but I don't see one.

[Courtesy Flush]

37. You misspelled dickhead

Seriously, all I could see was dickhead instead of diehard. Had to read it three times. Dickhead works better.

[elleng]

49. Sounds GREAT to me!!!

[Major Nikon]

19. I can't see that happening, but I hope it does

If something like that were to happen, it would destroy the GOP at least for the next 4 yr election cycle or two and perhaps permanently. It would also make them an easy target for Democrats who would correctly paint them as a party that has no value for democratic principles.

[Mr.Turnip]

22. If Santorum had a majority of delegates he would infact be the nominee.

If he swept the remaining primaries he WOULD be the nominee. He would have a majority of delegates and if that happened there is not anything they could do to stop him as it would not be a brokered convention.

[Fortran]

38. I ain't so sure...how many of us thought in February 08 they'd end up with McCain & Palin?

I sure didn't...

[existentialist]

53. McCain-Palin in February of 08

Nobody foresaw McCain-Palin in February of 08, but that was because Palin was so obscure (and so completely unqualified). If McCain had thought about McCain-Palin he would have had her vetted, and it would have been.

McCain's candidacy was seen as a very real possibility.

[INdemo]

40. Does Romney have a chnace?

..The 2000 election ?..I thought as millions of other voters did that Bush didnt stand a chance in 2000..but along came the Kate Harris,Jeb and other thieves along with the Repukes on the court and walla...
With technological improvements over the years election theft may have become much simpler and the desperate billionaires may take advantage of it.....

[applegrove]

18. You go girl!!

[Major Nikon]

20. Just goes to show how bad off the GOP is right now

Santorum couldn't even win a Senate race in his own state. He was an incumbent who lost by 17 points. The only reason he's doing well at all right now is because the public outside of Pennsylvania doesn't know him. He's made statements disparaging the libertarian wing of the GOP which means the only voters he's going to be able to pull in are the hard core social conservatives and the racists who are going to pull the lever for any white man who runs against Obama.

[LiberalEsto]

44. The GOP may be badly off regarding candidates

but don't forget all that anonymous super-PAC money flowing from scum like the Kochroaches
and the many dirty tricksters and election-stealing experts they've got working for them. And of course their Supreme Court majority.

It's going to be a challenge for Obama, regardless of what idiot they nominate.
I'm sure he will prevail, but it won't be a piece of cake.

[Major Nikon]

47. Obama is doing quite well in the fundraising department

Just the other day, Biden was in North Texas of all places raising money and having a good go at it.

The race is likely to boil down to three moderate states, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida just as it has in the last several elections. Santorum, or any other candidate who pretends to be a hard core social conservative, is not going to do well in any of those three. Nobody can win the election without support of moderates and independents. Much will also depend on the economy. If the economy keeps recovering at the rate it currently is, no Republican is going to have a chance regardless of how much money the Kock brothers pour into it.

[MaineDem]

23. But that doesn't matter. It's state-by-state.

Remember 2008 and Obama-Clinton?

It's all about delegates and who wins the individual states. National popular vote doesn't count a bit - except to the media.

[digidigido]

25. I'll say it again, it will be Jeb and Huntsman coming out of a brokered convention

[Douglas Carpenter]

27. the social conservatives want a strong figure - Huntsman completely fails -

there is no evidence that Jeb is under any serious consideration by anyone in the know. Polling indicates that he would be a very weak candidate - For Republicans these days -the Bush name is the name that must not be spoken

[TBF]

33. Wouldn't surprise me in the least -

the pugs don't like their candidates. As one old-school repug told me "I like Newt's ideas but he's not a very nice person". They know these won't fly. If I were to place a bet I would not count Jeb out.

[elleng]

50. You may be right; been 'waiting' for jeb,

+ Huntsman adds reasonableness (and some right-ishness?)
But what's that do to jeb in '16???

[spicegal]

28. That's just scary. Why is Santorum even in politics?

He should be an ordained Cathoic priest, but then I guess he'd be buggering little boys.

[olegramps]

35. Who says that he maybe he isn't. Nothing would surprise me about these miscreants.

[truthisfreedom]

31. Sanitorium? Isn't he the guy who hates women and everyone else who isn't a straight white male?

Seriously?

[MrMickeysMom]

32. He doesn't even have a dog in this fight...

... unless there's a man atop it.


(yeah, I know it's getting old, but so are the GOP strategists of the religious wrong)

[Courtesy Flush]

36. Damn. I wanted Romney.

He's so full of holes, it would be a slam dunk for Obama.

Not like Santorum would fire up anybody, though.

[stubtoe]

39. RNC will need to work overtime to rig remaining primaries

to keep Mitt at the top.

[nbolick]

42. Loving it.

No one can beat Obama. If it could actually happen Chris Christie would be running.

[Iliyah]

43. To keep Mittens on top

ummmmmmmmmmm, like cheat? I'm pretty sure they did that in Maine and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. The higher ups in the gop party know that Frosty can't connect with most Americans. He's already alienating the "Protestants" with his over the top Catholic rhetoric. Frosty is preaching for one religion which is the Catholic religion and that my friends is trickling down to us common folks as against "Freedom of Religion".

He's mentioned nothing about helping America's ecomony nor its people pull out of this distrasous situtation which I shall remind everyone that it was the gop party that created this and now they have their "golden child" Daniels spouting lies (what else is new).

These so called "Christians" have broken just about every (10) commandment there is and which view themselves as closer to "God like". Smells like how the "Nazi" started.

[jonathanroberts24]

45. Romney should fall over line.

Romney seems to have the better PR machine, and I still think he will take the Republican primary race, but heck he will be limping over the line. Momentum seems to be with Santorum, but it's worth pointing out that here in the UK the bookmakers make Romney 2/7 favourite to win. This means that if you wanted to win $2 you would have to stake $7 - i.e. the odds are very short for Mitt.

[Dont call me Shirley]

48. Just goes to show the percentage of the population who are insane in the US.