Santorum raises Romney doubts with 3-state sweep
Source: Agencies |
February 9, 2012, Thursday
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A RESURGENT Rick Santorum won Republican presidential contests in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri in a stunning sweep that raised new questions about front-runner Mitt Romney's appeal to conservatives and threatened to drag out the race to find a challenger to United States President Barack Obama.
The victories by Santorum, a fierce and vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights, exposed Romney's struggles to convince cultural conservatives that he's now in line with their beliefs, despite his previous support as Massachusetts governor of gay and abortion rights.
Santorum cast the results in Tuesday's contests as a victory for a purer form of conservatism than Romney has offered. Before the Colorado caucus results were announced, a jubilant Santorum declared to cheering supporters in St Charles, Missouri: "Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota!" Challenging his rival, Santorum said, "On health care, global warming and the Wall Street bailout, he charged, "Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama."
Romney shrugged off his poor showing, but his losses in all three contests laid bare his weakness, just when it looked as if his party was beginning to embrace him.
The questions about Romney's appeal with conservatives were even sharper in light of his aggressive push to court them in recent days. Now the Republican nomination fight threatens to rumble past March 6, or Super Tuesday, when 10 states hold nominating contests.
Romney showed no sign of disappointment. "I want to congratulate Senator Santorum, but I expect to become the nominee with your help," he told supporters in Denver.
The victories were the first for Santorum since he eked out a 34-vote win over Romney in the leadoff Iowa caucuses a month ago.
Santorum had faded since Iowa, and Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, seemed to eclipse him when he won in South Carolina last month.
Tuesday's results were grim for Gingrich, who lacked the resources and organization of rivals.
But libertarian-leaning Texas congressman Ron Paul reveled in his second place in Minnesota.
Following Maine's low-profile caucuses, which end on Saturday, candidates have a lull until Michigan and Arizona on February 28.
The victories by Santorum, a fierce and vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights, exposed Romney's struggles to convince cultural conservatives that he's now in line with their beliefs, despite his previous support as Massachusetts governor of gay and abortion rights.
Santorum cast the results in Tuesday's contests as a victory for a purer form of conservatism than Romney has offered. Before the Colorado caucus results were announced, a jubilant Santorum declared to cheering supporters in St Charles, Missouri: "Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota!" Challenging his rival, Santorum said, "On health care, global warming and the Wall Street bailout, he charged, "Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama."
Romney shrugged off his poor showing, but his losses in all three contests laid bare his weakness, just when it looked as if his party was beginning to embrace him.
The questions about Romney's appeal with conservatives were even sharper in light of his aggressive push to court them in recent days. Now the Republican nomination fight threatens to rumble past March 6, or Super Tuesday, when 10 states hold nominating contests.
Romney showed no sign of disappointment. "I want to congratulate Senator Santorum, but I expect to become the nominee with your help," he told supporters in Denver.
The victories were the first for Santorum since he eked out a 34-vote win over Romney in the leadoff Iowa caucuses a month ago.
Santorum had faded since Iowa, and Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, seemed to eclipse him when he won in South Carolina last month.
Tuesday's results were grim for Gingrich, who lacked the resources and organization of rivals.
But libertarian-leaning Texas congressman Ron Paul reveled in his second place in Minnesota.
Following Maine's low-profile caucuses, which end on Saturday, candidates have a lull until Michigan and Arizona on February 28.
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