I'm not a Repub or undecided Repub so my take on this could be completely wrong. I think tonight was a good night for Romney,not because he did particularly well but because Santorum really didn't do well. I thought he engaged too much with Ron Paul and maybe that was because Paul was sitting right next to him. None of the other 3 candidates are gonna peel off any Ron Paul supporters and Santorum is not gonna peel off any Romney or Newt supporters by jousting with Ron Paul. I understand why Santorum did that early in the campaign. He had to take every opportunity he had to engage with anybody when there were 6-8 people on the stage and all had limited airtime. He doesn't need to do that now. Tonight,Paul and Romney both baited him on earmarks and he took the bait. Romney baited him with Arlen Specter too and Santorum bit again. Romney learned his lesson when Perry baited him in the first coupla debates and Mitt bit.
I don't see how Santorum takes MI or AZ now. I think Santorum peaked in those 2 states already but Santorum still has to run hard in Michigan and get every vote and delegate he can there and make it as close as he can. A poll on Monday,I think,showed Santorum had a good lead in WA State which is a caucus state on 3/3. If Santorum doesn't win MI,WA State is must-win for him imo. He has to win at least one of the states before Super Tuesday so he can fundraise off it and keep his supporters energized. A win would get him some free airtime too.
I don't see how Santorum takes MI or AZ now. I think Santorum peaked in those 2 states already but Santorum still has to run hard in Michigan and get every vote and delegate he can there and make it as close as he can. A poll on Monday,I think,showed Santorum had a good lead in WA State which is a caucus state on 3/3. If Santorum doesn't win MI,WA State is must-win for him imo. He has to win at least one of the states before Super Tuesday so he can fundraise off it and keep his supporters energized. A win would get him some free airtime too.
