Santorum's rhetoric could help Romney in the general

[Drunken Irishman]

I think more and more Americans are sitting there baffled every time Santorum opens his mouth. He hits at contraceptives, the President's faith and now he's going after JFK - about as big of an American icon as you can get.

It's killing Santorum, but helping Romney - even if this stuff plays to the base.

What I mean is that, to a good portion of Americans, Romney looks positively boring and sane compared to Santorum. So, when he wins the nomination (I still think he will), those voters who are disgusted by Santorum's words, will sigh in relief at a Romney nomination.

"Well, at least he's not Santorum!"

I know the prevailing thought is that the further right Santorum goes, the further right Romney has to jump, but I'm not so sure. Romney hasn't been baited into even discussing much of these ridiculous issues and has focused, even if weirdly, on the economy, gas prices and Iran. But like I said, I think most Americans will look at Romney and think, "wow, he's more sane than Santorum..." and therefore more acceptable to the voting public.

That can help in an election, especially if the voters aren't fully on board with Pres. Obama.

Will it be enough? I doubt it. But I think Romney is in a good position fighting it out with a crazy candidate because, in the end, when he prevails, independent and some Democratic voters will have gnawed off their entire fingers in fear of a Santorum presidency. But now, well, Romney doesn't look so bad...

[SemiCharmedQuark]

Romney has hitched his wagon to someone who leads a hate group, pasted himself as absolutely anti-immigrant, joined the "I dont think birth control should be covered" bandwagon, thrown gay couples under the bus and said he would sign a personhood amendment.

Most importantly, he is not likeable. Even George W. Bush was likeable. I don't know anyone that is relieved Romney's going to win...my republican aunt feels she's looking at two turd sandwiches.

[Drunken Irishman]

I probably get a bit more pro-Romney stuff because of my location (Utah). A friend of mine, who voted for Obama in '08 (lives in Nevada), says he'll vote again for Obama if Santorum/Gingrich win. However, It think he's a big Romney supporter, so, I'm assuming he'll vote for him over Obama.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

Yes, that is probably it. My republicans are Texans and they hate Romney.

[Andy823]

Many of those who support Santorum will NOT vote for Romeny no matter what, simply because of his religion. They don't consider him to be a "real" christian, and will never vote for someone they believe is in a cult!

Also Mitt has a problem with blue collar workers, he just doesn't click with them. The man has never done a hard days labor in his life, and he is not going to pick up some of those Reagan democrats that Santorum might have if he had not gone so batshit crazy with his non-biblical religious beliefs.

He is simply another sacrifice by the republican party. They know they can't win, so they let the guy they don't want to see run again have the nomination, that's Mitt. Santorum would have made the whole republican party look like complete morons, and they won't let it go that far.