Santorum rocks Romney with Minn., Mo., Colo. victories

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Conservative Byte
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A resurgent Rick Santorum won Republican presidential caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday night, a stunning sweep that raised fresh questions about front-runner Mitt Romney’s appeal among the ardent conservatives at the core of the party’s political base.

Santorum triumphed, as well, in a nonbinding Missouri primary that was worth bragging rights but no national convention delegates.

“Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota,” the jubilant former Pennsylvania senator told cheering supporters in St. Charles, Mo. Challenging both his GOP rival and the Democratic president, he declared that on issues ranging from health care to “Wall Street bailouts, Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama.”

Returns from 83 percent of Minnesota’s precincts showed Santorum with 45 percent support, Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 27 percent and Romney — who won the state in his first try for the nomination four years ago — with 17 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich trailed with 11 percent.

It was closer in Colorado, where returns from all the precincts showed Santorum with 40 percent of the vote to 35 for Romney. Gingrich had 13, and Paul claimed 12 percent.

Romney showed no sign of disappointment in remarks to supporters.

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  • Al

    Made it to the Minnesota Caucus for my district.

    Santorum won the straw poll for my district… Paul took 2nd and walked away with 3 out of 7 delegates, leaving the final four delegates split among the other 3 candidates.

    Ron Paul 2012!!!

  • http://ConservativeByte.com JC

    Very happy to see this happen. I hope he can continue and that the people will fully realize that we need someone like Rick Santorum instead of some big money politician who has no concept of a real America; ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

    • True Patriot

      JC, I agree with you. We need a true conservative like Rick Santorum not a “big money politician” like Romney. Now, I don’t know if Rick will win the rest of the caucuses. Of course, Romney’s supporters use nothing but negative, mud-slinging attacks on anyone who seems to be beating Romney. I think that’s just as bad as Obumer and his ‘criminal/lying’ supporters. I hope a God-fearing person, like Rich Santorum, wins the Republican nomination. “Only God-fearing people make trustworthy leaders.” See website: http://www.haasstrep68.com

      • Hans

        Speaking of mud slinging, that’s all Santorum has been doing against Romney. His turn to receive is here.

  • conservative1

    Congrats to Rick! He’s the best (work)horse to ride into this fall’s battle against big O and the destroyers.

  • BGinTN

    Opinion,

    Santorum won no delegates in non-binding caucuses, but what a shot across the bow of the Establishment Republicans.

    He has yet to win, or even do decently in a primary. (and the general election will be much more like a primary than a caucus)

    He has yet to really be vetted or take any real heat. You can bet he has Romney’s attention now, that he will now get the withering scrutiny that Newt got after South Carolina.

    Santorum’s wins are impressive to a point (and helpful in stopping Romney) but only to a point.

    A win for the not romney team.

    Having Romney rebuked in this manner is far more important than who won.

    • Lonnie W. Lynch

      I love it, the Santorum sweep last night has the “Push Romney” establishment in a total tizzy.. They don’t even know what to say.. Looking at Carl Roves face is wonderful, can’t wait to hear how Bret Hume, Krauthammer, Steven Hayes, Judge Jeanine, Chris Wallace and Carl Cameron are all going to try and play this loss.. I am sure that they are going to be trying to make it sound like its no big deal.. Its a hellvu big deal and they damn well know it !!! Don’t know about everyone else but I am sick and tired of them trying to push another McCain off on us……

    • AlleyOops

      Iowa doesn’t count as a victory for Santorum? Iowans would probably disagree with your assessment.

    • Megamom

      Who one is important. Both Romney and Gingrich have flip flopped on heathcare mandates, abortion, bailouts, global warming. All this Obama would tear them up on. There are plenty of video footage for Obama to use on them. Santorum is a new face, who has always been conservative. People are just getting to know him, and Obama is scared to death if he gets nominated. (No video footage of him flip flopping). Romney lost to McCain who lost to Obama.

      • http://! Penny Fuentes

        MegaMom, McCain lost to obama because that is what they wanted. McCain is a progressive, he ran a campaign that the “DEMOCRATS” admired. Ya think, of course they liked the way he ran a campaign, he handed the election to obama on a platter. The only thing that irked the dems, was SARAH. They did not want her because they knew she could and would take them to task, unfortuneately she was told to tone down her voice by McCains campaign.

  • patriotrenegade

    Caucuses are NOT primaries. Rick is clean on globalist treason and a decent guy, but will never carry a general election. The voters are rejecting globalist traitors en masse, and that includes CFR knewtburger. The nation does NOT want him and he is a global/marxist NOT a conservative.

    • Lonnie W. Lynch

      I hate to keep saying it, but………….”There you go again”

      • http://! Penny Fuentes

        Having been born in Minnesota I don’t get excited about their political choices, after all they put Jesse Ventura as Gov. and sent a muslim to congress… excuse me if I am not impressed!
        Romney 2012, is the candidate obama and dems do not want to run against. If they weren’t afraid of Romney why would they have spent so much time trying to destroy his campaign. I think that Romney as a businessman can stop the madness this communist muslim has put into effect in this country.

        • http://! Penny Fuentes

          Plus everyone, fellow PATRIOTS. The dems. and obama are laughing at us because we are cannibalizing each other, heck they won’t have to do anything we’re doing it for them.

          • Sumerian Man

            Romney is Obama in RINO clothing, and his business was bilking medicare – medicaid out of millions! Do a little research! Ron Paul is the only candidate running for the cause of the American people in mind. The rest are, and have been living in a very different world than we do, and they like it that way!

      • patriotrenegade

        Slogans-that’s all you ever say. zero on info.

    • AlleyOops

      Yes, there he goes again with the same old tired and worn negativity…

      • patriotrenegade

        oopsie always seems to have the meds going.

    • Megamom

      The people of CO, MO & MN have spoken and their opinions matter. Obama is the global marxist.

  • tod

    santorum voted for Gun Control ,enough said !!! Dr.Ron Paul 2012 for the ONLY PERSON RUNNING,THAT’S NOT WORKING WITH THE NEW WORLD ORDER,PERIOD !!!

    • Nate

      Ron Paul has some great, fresh, new ideas. Unfortunately for him and all of his supporters, he is old enough to have ran against Lincoln. You cant put someone in office who wont make it another 4 years, unless you REALLY like the vice president.

      • Sumerian Man

        And if we don’t get him in – the America we know and love, won’t last another four years! Besides Ron Paul is well aware of his age and I’m sure he’ll pick his running mate accordingly. Afterall, he’s still the smartest guy in the room.

  • Nate

    FEAR THE VEST!

    • C.Davis

      it’s called a scapular.

  • Frank

    Glad to see what might be an acceptable alternative to Romney start winning.
    Santorum is not my #1 choice, but I would like to avoid voting 3rd Party if it’s Statist Romney vs Statist Obama.
    However, as bad as Obama was to the USA, he’ll probably get re-elected since about 50% of the voters now get more out of the government than what they put into it. They don’t want to lose their handouts, so they will selfishly re-elect this fraud of a President… unless the economy gets worse.

    • Nate

      Thats one way to buy votes!

  • Redrose

    Yeah! Rick Santorum is showing that he has a better appeal to Republican voters than the other candidates. Mitt Romney’s strength is in his leadership skills. He needs to admit he can’t relate with people who are poor or have lost their job.He’s never been in either situation. Instead he needs to lay out a program tp show how he will reduce the deficit, fix the economy and help private enterprise.

    • Lonnie W. Lynch

      That is one of his problems and the other one is, his major turn around from the person that he was in Mass. and the person that he says that he is today…. How in the world can you trust someone with that much “change of heart ” in such a short period of time ???

      • AlleyOops

        The answer to your question is quite simple…you can’t.

        • http://! Penny Fuentes

          Well Ally Oops, I am glad The Lord is in charge of forgiving and you aren’t. What alot of people do not realize is that Romney had to work with an state government in Massachusetts that was 85% democrat. He supports the 2nd. amendment, refused to sign a bill into law that would legalize embryo testing, He is the husband of 1 wife for over 40yrs. He loves The United States and The Constitution. Being a Mormon worries some people, not me, in high school most of my friends were either Mormon or Seventh Day, and I have never met nicer or more family oriented than they. This is what we need a morally strong “business man” to save us from drowning. I like Santorum, but Romeny is the one to beat obama.

          • Sumerian Man

            And I’m glad you’re not in charge of vital statistics or we would all look like illegitimates. Do some real research on Romney – the flip-flopper, gun control freak, lobbyist, lier, tax money theif. That’s his business, and he’s good at it!

          • http://! Penny Fuentes

            Sumerian, You’re for Ron Paul the man is insane. The man shakes and stammers as if he’s in the state of withdrawl. With his affection for legalizing drugs this is quite possibly true.

          • Stan

            Penny,he is not for legalizing drugs.He is for freedom of choice,which equates to liberty and freedom.People like you that lie and distort the truth aren’t doing this country any favors.

      • patriotrenegade

        what hypocrisy! you knewtie nuts always talk about forgiveness for CFR knewtie and his change of heart and new personna. short memories.

  • Joyce Lott

    What I want is the best candidate to beat Obama! I trust the best will come out on top!!

    • BGinTN

      Agree Joyce!

      But some history, some old, old history as well.

      Is Obama even going to be on the ballot?

      And the comments, they contain some histortical facts too.
      http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2485624/posts

      • http://! Penny Fuentes

        Yes, he will be on the ballot, The DNC and libs want him there . Our Congress and Government is filled with progressives, socialists, liberal these are code word for communist. They are even in the republican party so we have to “ferret” them out! The Dnc and Congress knew obama was not a citizen and they have chosen to ignore this fact because they want a communist country which if we keep playing around and do not put in a “STRONG” candidate is what we will end up with. If obama wins, this will be the last election in The United States of America.

  • Katie

    The decision is made by the delegates, not by the straw poll. Only Ron Paul can win. There is no such thing as a former Ron Paul supporter, but more people every day are understanding the concept of treating others as you would like to be treated. Only Ron Paul can convince the Obama voters away from Obama’s totalitarian strategies, because Ron Paul has integrity.

    • AlleyOops

      Yeah, only Ron Paul who has yet to carry anything….not even water.

    • http://! Penny Fuentes

      I am sorry Katie, Ron Paul is insane and not fit to be President. If people can’t see this just by looking at this poor creature then we are in trouble….

      • Stan

        Katie, don’t listen to Penny,she is a half bubble off of plum.Thats why she berates Ron Paul.They all want a strong candidate against obama,but I want an honest candidate,and there is only one of them running and that is Ron Paul.Too bad these people are nose deep in party politics,and not fully immersed in the country and the constitution.

    • Sumerian Man

      Katie, don’t let these foolhardy sheeple discourage you, Ron Paul IS the answer to America’s needs at this time. No other candidate has the courage to step up and speak the truth of the real problems in our current and past administrations. Smoke and mirror candidates like the others will only get us more of the same practices and woes. Hopefully, the blinders will come off of the rest of the good intentioned voters here, and the rest of the country, and they will see the candidates for who they really are before we get stuck again with an ever spiraling downward political scenerio. Liars, cheats, thieves, and phonies have been destroying this country for decades now and the really sad part is these same people are rewarded with more money, power, political office and jobs, and all because we the people refuse to see them for who they really are! Ron Paul is the only choice for Americans who truly care about America, anyone else and kiss it all goodbye. Keep swinging at em Katie, maybe we can make just enough difference to help save America from this pack of wolves.

  • tweety

    Hope this is some of the fallout from that HHS action of earlier this week by Sebellius. Although all four of the GOP candidates have come out for the repeal of Obamacare, Santorum is clearly the one who is pro-life.

    • http://! Penny Fuentes

      Romney is pro-life.

  • AlleyOops

    I contributed to Santorum’s campaign after his speech that he gave when it was determined that he was the eventual winner in Iowa. Rick has greatly improved since the beginning of campaign season…as Sarah Palin so accurately pointed out, with each new debate offers the candidates the opportunity to hone their debating skills. Santorum should see a big boost in campaign donations as a result of his victories in CO, MN & MO…it certainly wont be Karl Rove & the RNC money but perhaps money in small donations from lots of supporters.

    • http://DJkatiegreen.wordpress.com DJ Katie of Miami

      I wish Sarah would stand up & fully support Rick. It’s sad, I read all her books & standing for Newt was way off base from what she’s been saying & writing about all these years. Newt & Mitt are totally against what she says she values. I am sadly dissappointed in Sarah more recently & wish she would speak out more in line with what she preaches as well:(

      • http://! Penny Fuentes

        Because SARAH if for Newt Gingrich.

        • patriotrenegade

          ….and $$$$$$$$…..from CFR murdoch.

      • Trecia

        Palin supports Newt because the last time in history the budget was balanced Newt was in charge of the House. She wants proven leadership from a man who has learned from & admitted his mistakes. The establishment of neither party wants Newt because they don’t want anyone forcing them to stop spending beyond our means. Romneys a good choice as well. The Federal Government needs a leader who can take a multi billion dollar corporation (the Federal Government) cut the size of its non performing assets (the regulatory agencies & bloated Federal Employees) streamine efficiancy (more cutting the size of Gov) & empower its asset producing structures (reign in the EPA & its stranglehold on American fuel production). His work with the state of Mass, the Olympics & Bain show he knows how to do that. Plus Romney would win over Obama (who is even losing support from Democratics) but Santorum would never win the more populous east & west coast states. I know I’ve lived in Democrat run Massachusettes & Missouri & Republican run Kansas. So either Romney or Gingrich are acceptable for different atributes. But I have learned from exposure to many people you just can’t trust anyone who smiles continuously & answers serious questions while holding his eyes closed. Especially if he’s a politiction! If you can’t trust somebody who does that in day to day interactiion, how can you trust a politician who looks like he can’t look you in the eye, when he is only loooking into a video camera lens while answering questions he has been trained to expect? Santorum would loose big time to Obama! He will not apeal at all to street wise citizens of New York (& east coast urban cities) who can spot a con or to the PR & glam wise citizens of California. He is not going to be able to stop those mannerisms because they are part of his character. Those mannerisms are what are called a “tell” in body language because they “tell” he’s lying. How do you know whether he EVER entered the CFR while he was a Congressman or paid lobbyist? He will come off to more sophisticated voters as a fraud. And soon you will see whether he can stand up to the vetting process. In the meantime I’m not interested in a popularity contest Obama is still polling well for personal popularity. I’m interested in who can do the job. I would even vote for Ron Paul over Obama! But if Santorum is the candidate I will stay home & pray on election day. He is a “bigtime” loser.

        • http://! Penny Fuentes

          Trecia, PLEASE don’t say that. That is why we ended up with obama because of peoples hatred for McCain, mine included, they stayed home and did not vote. If this happens and obama wins again AMERICA, will be no longer. I would rather be dead than live after the destruction of the Greatest Country on Earth.

      • Stan

        DJKatie,Sarah has had a taste of the party,and is addicted to it like cocaine.She will now say and do what the party tells her to do.Thats how the party and the news media can pick your candidates for you.You just have to vote like they direct you too.

  • http://DJkatiegreen.wordpress.com DJ Katie of Miami

    Finally! Now the mainstream media just might have to pay attention to Santorum. Check out my blog on my profile here about all the “mindless sheeple” that have been following the media & not voting for who they believe in. People should be standing up & proud to call themselves American when they are not afraid to vote for who they believe in & not just what the media tells them to do! If you vote for him, he IS electable!

  • Dusty

    Yea for Santorum!!

  • Malachi

    It’s that “deer in the headlights” look that Santorum has so often that I think keeps him down.
    Note to Rick: Don’t stammer so much and practice looking confident and sure.
    Maybe it’s the charisma factor… not sure. But I like him anyway, and realize that some do not for the aforementioned reasons.

  • paul

    Game On!!

  • Nonniejay

    I have liked Rick since he used to appear regularly on FoxNews. I was disappointed that he wasn’t getting media attention, but now he is. I will vote for the best Republican candidate, whoever it is, but Rick most closely represents my conservative values, and I’ll be voting for HIM in the primary. The message is, we want America back!

  • http://www/facebook.com MsManners

    Yea for Santorum!!

  • http://! Penny Fuentes

    why has conservative byte gone into moderating our speech? I said absolutley nothing wrong in my post and it came up awaiting moderation. Is it because I said our congress and white house is loaded with communists?

  • Lois MacLaren

    During Colorado’s last race for Governor, the LOSER in the Republican primary gathered more votes than the WINNER in the Democratic primary – which was Hickenlooper. However, the leading Republican candidate had some hidden dirt which the news media knew about – but did NOT begin to reveal – until AFTER the leading Republican candidate had already secured the Republican nomination for Governor. Once the dirt about the Republican party nominee began to become public, one of the leading super-conservatives in the Republican party decided that the official nominee was not conservative enough, so he switched parties, and ran a third-party campaign. Although the combined votes of the official Republican nominee plus the third-party candidate were MORE votes than the Democratic nominee – Hickenlooper – received – in the end – it was the Democratic nominee – Hickenlooper – who waltzed in to the Governor’s office. There were plenty of registered Democrats who did NOT want anything to do with Hickenlooper – and many of those voters were prepared to cross party lines and vote for the Republican candidate. UNTIL the Republican party disintegrated in disarray. Colorado is a state which has far more voters who are registered as Independents than it has voters who are registered as either Republicans or Democrats. The registered Republicans and registered Democrats are pretty evenly matched. So, to win anything in Colorado, a candidate MUST appeal to Independents as well as to members of his own party. Many Colorado voters believe that what the White House is hoping to do is pull off a repeat of the Colorado governor’s race. It was very obvious to many voters in Colorado that the White House rhetoric about “millionaires and billionaires who are not paying their fair share” is nothing more than veiled references to Romney, whom the White House has always presumed would be the Republican nominee. This led Colorado voters to suspect that Romney, just like the previous Republican nominee for governor, must have some type of buried financial secret, which the White House could turn over to their liberal media lap dogs AFTER Romney had become the Republican party’s official nominee – which would sink Romney’s candidacy during the Presidential race and make it possible for the current White House occupant to waltz back in to the White House in the same way that Hickenlooper waltzed into Colorado’s governor’s office during the last election. If Romney supporters can NOT see the strategy which the White House is obviously planning to use, then Romney supporters are just too naive to be in politics – and they need to begin to find a new forum for expressing their political views.

    • http://! Penny Fuentes

      Amen Lois, they, dems, are trying to destroy Romney. Obama and dems have been shaking in their boots for they know Romney will win.

    • C.Davis

      At least Penny agrees with you. Oh, wait. … Never mind. Folks just can’t get that if every single republican got out and voted for one of the bellicose candidates, (Romney, Gingrinch, Santorum) they would still lose by a landslide because independents aren’t buying boarding passes for their runaway train, next stop dry gulch.

  • TAN

    MsManners,
    YES… OBAMA 4 MORE YEARS IF RICK SANTORUM NOMINATED!!!!
    Nonniejay,
    COUNT THE VOTES OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY YOU WILL SEE OBAMA WILL STAY IN THE OFFICE! ONLY CONSERVATIVE AND CATHOLIC VOTES CANNOT WIN OBAMA!!! IT IS SAD!
    Penny Fuentes, YOU ARE SMART!
    FOLK, Ask yourself that you NEED THE NEW GOP PRESIDENT OR YOU NEED A CONSERVATIVE AND RELIGIOUS NOMINEE JUST ONLY COMFORT YOURSELF FROM NOW TO NOVEMBER AND REGRET AFTER GIVE OBAMA 4 MORE YEARS?
    IT’S ONLY ROMNEY CAN GET THE VOTES FROM ALL SIDES AT THIS POINT OF TIME!
    IF SANTORUM TO BE NOMINATED THE CLEAR WINNER IS OBAMA! CONGRATULATION!!!

  • SgtLucyRet

    I’m not sure if Santorum can beat Obama, but what I know about Romney, I don’t think he’s a real conservative as Rick S. is. Rick is my man now, and I’ll do all I can to see Obama is gone in Nov.

    • http://! Penny Fuentes

      Romney will do that, obama the nightmare will be gone. I have never been as scared as I have been in the last 3yrs. since this illegal and illigitmate cretin was allowed to slither into the White House. But we ALL must remember that after the election and Romney has won, that we cannot forget that there is an entire Congress of communists that need to be excised. We cannot sit on our laurels and think everything is ok- it’s not, the evil is still among us. Go to http://www.agendadocumentary.com this video tells you exactly what has been going on to destroy this country. We have to REMEMBER a PATRIOT who loved this country and fought against communism was “Blacklisted by History” for his struggle. Gen. McArthur also stated there were communists in Washington, they are still there.

      • http://! Penny Fuentes

        By the way, that Patriot was Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who to this day is ridiculed. Read the book “Blacklisted by History”

  • Harry Anderson

    It is about time that we wake up and start hearing, not just listening to, what this young man has to say. He may very well be the one who molds America over the next four years. At least, I hope so.

  • DRE

    oh my oh my wonder who threw down a spike X 2 or 3 States at a time.

  • Ann Wilson Kingsley

    The candidate who won 3 states had an “almost” Tea Party Express endorsement from Amy Kremer, which amounted to an endorsement for – you guessed it – Santorum. Ron Paul, sans any Tea Party leader or favorite endorsements ever, gave an admirable performance, especially in Minnesota. Ron Paul is also the only fiscal conservative in the race. It seems increasingly odd to me that at a time when our nation is in dire economic crisis, the Tea Party rejects fiscal conservatives in favor of very LOUD weird or faux social conservatives. Apparently social conservatives share a lot in common with Liberals: They believe money the Federal Government spends is manufactured by Uncle Sam and his elves, and no one needs to work for it. The Tea Party has lost their mandate.