Well, other than being more conservative than Gingrich, polling better in head--to-head matchups against Obama than Gingrich, and having less personal baggage than Gingrich, why would anyone prefer Santorum? I mean he doesn't win debates against moderators as skillfully as the former Speaker, so clearly he's just not the answer.

Santorum needs wins vs Romney in Minnesota and Missouri tonight.

Let's take the blinders off for a minute guys. The only reason Santorum polls that well is because nobody knows who he is, he hasn't been attacked yet like Mitt, Newt, Perry, etc...

If Santorum had to go through the vetting the other candidates have gone through, his numbers would surely fall.

It's time to coalesce around Romney. He's not a perfect candidate, but he really is the best shot we have, and I think he stands a very good chance at beating Obama. Better, there's a good chance we can pick up the senate and keep the house with Romney at the top of the ticket. Even if Romney loses, this will save us from much of the Damage Obama can do, and they can then force his hand in ways they can't without the senate. But I remain hopeful that Romney can landslide Obama.

Just remember, all of the vetting the Republicans have had to go through, putting their record on the table hurt them. When Obama goes through that scrutiny in the fall, and people are reminded just how terrible he's been, he'll have an enormously difficult time winning. His poll numbers in the swing states are in the tank. The only way we lose this is if our nominee is unwilling to take Obama on. Romney's proven that he's willing to go to the mat to win an election. That's the main reason I like him at this point. I think he's willing to dog fight.

Gee...then how come Obama was cleaning Santorum's clock in head to head polls all through January. Are you arguing Rick is LESS known today than he was a month ago?

Obama was getting 50%+ in head to head until now....because Rick is actually getting known by more people - especially with the fewer numbers on stage in the debates.

In other words...take your conclusion and completely reverse it.

"It's time to coalesce around Romney. "

I gotta give you Romney people credit. Only you could take a poll showing another candidate doing well as further proof that Romney is the only acceptable choice for Republicans.

It really will be interesting to see what excuses will fly come November and Romney has been defeated. You will either blame conservatives for failing to coalesce around Romney, or you will suggest that nobody could have beaten Obama. I will guarantee that the one thing Romney boosters won't do is engage in self-reflection about how they forced a turd of a candidate down our throats to the detriment of our party and, more importantly, our country.

Well, it's hardly a guarantee that Santorum would beat Obama, but quite honestly I'm beginning to wonder if he might not have a better shot than Romney. Normally his stalwart position on the social issues would be an easy target, but given the economic times we are in, I doubt those arguments are of any great interest to Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe.

Rick just needs to focus on economics and national security. Not that he should or could hide his social conservatism, but everyone knows where he is on those issues (and probably don't care too much either way).

I don't think Santorum would beat Obama, but it's definitely not a foregone conclusion like it is for Newt Gingrich, it would actually be a race that most conservatives would support. Santorum would likely connect much better with many Reagan Democrats in the Rust Belt, but I see him getting slaughtered in more affluent suburbs with soccer moms as a result of his stances on abortion and contraception (his positions are considered extreme even among social conservatives)

Santorum also doesn't have the most likable demeanor, he has a sharp edge to him that comes off whiny and angry. It also doesn't help that his last election he lost by 20 points in a purple state that's fairly representative of America at large. It would be one thing if he narrowly lost in a wave election, but that's a blowout of epic proportions despiteoutspending his opponent nearly 2 to 1.

I also agree that Santorum's strong showing in this poll is likely a result that no one has felt threatened enough to actually "vet" him.

As I said in my reply last night that for some reason wasn't posted, Santorum has a much better record of success at winning elections than either Romney or Newt. Four electoral victories - two in congressional races in the heavily Democratic Pittsburgh area and two state-wide in a state that includes Philadelphia. Romney served a single term as Governor of Massachusetts and didn't run for re-election - probably because the polls indicated he would lose badly.

And Gingrich has never won elective office to anything outside of his congressional district - and was cashiered by his own party four years after becoming Speaker. It's time for the "Santorum-lost-by-20%" crowd to find a new hobby horse.

Worth noting in the same Rasmussen poll that Mitt Romney loses to Obama by a margin of 47% to 43%. So it might be a good time to take a break in the constant repetition (almost Occupy Protestor-like) of the mantra "Romney is the only person who can beat Obama."