The latest Rasmussen Poll shows that only one 2012 Republican presidential candidate can beat Barack Obama, and that candidate is former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. If the general election were held today, Santorum would defeat Obama by a margin of 45% to 44%. Mitt Romney comes in second, losing to Obama 49% to 42%. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is a close third with Obama winning 49% to 41% and Congressman Ron Paul loses to Obama 50% to 38%. Santorum got a 10-point boost in support from Independents since the last poll was conducted. So much for the argument that only Mitt Romney can attract Independents and defeat Obama.
The news is timely as today′s caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado are held today, as well as a no-delegate primary in Missouri where Santorum faces Romney without Gingrich on the ballot. Whether its his sweater-wearing or his Conservatives views, Santorum has also picked up some strong endorsements by GOP celebrities of the Christian Right like Pat Boone and Phyllis Schlafly. While Rush Limbaugh has not revealed whom he had voted for during the Florida primary, he did drop many hints that Santorum may have been his choice since he was the most consistently Conservative candidate running.
Today′s elections could prove to be make-or-break ones for the Santorum campaign. While still in black money-wise, his funds are very limited. A victory in Missouri, which seems very likely, could help rally support and keep Santorum in the race, even though he would not win any delegates. Polls for Minnesota show Santorum with a slight lead over Romney, 33% to 27%. In Colorado, Romney leads Santorum 37% to 27%. In Missouri, Santorum leads Romney 45% to 24%. While Missouri offers no delegates until a caucus next month, delegates in Colorado and Minnesota are non-binding.
So today may be a very good one for Rick Santorum as the Republicans hold caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado, and a primary in Missouri. The polls close in MN and MO at 8pm EST with polls closing in CO at 9pm EST. Santorum should win the Missouri primary easily if the latest polls are correct, which would be a moral victory since delegates are involved. He has a slight lead over Mitt Romney in Minnesota and trails him by 10-points in Colorado. Hopefully these two states will count their caucus votes better than Iowa and Nevada did. Then we might find out who won before the roosters wake up. Be sure and join us for our live blog this evening to watch the results come in.
February 7th, 2012 at 7:26 am
They have a term for this poll: outlier
Rasmussen is right of center, but I’m sure they are pretty darn eager to get a new poll out.
February 7th, 2012 at 8:57 am
I don’t think these ‘Obama vs. [candidate]” polls mean much right now. They’ll change again in a week. The polls that do mean something are the recent ones that show Santorum leading in Minnesota and Missouri.
I am glad that Santorum is pulling ahead of Newt. While I’m for Romney, I’d be ok with Santorum taking the nomination…just as long as it’s not Newt.
That said, I think the only person with a chance to get enough delegates is Romney. I think there are two possible outcomes at this point: 1) Romney gets enough delegates to take the nomination; or 2) brokered convention. A brokered convention might not be a bad thing.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:21 am
“One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. [Sex] is supposed to be within marriage. It’s supposed to be for purposes that are yes, conjugal…but also procreative. That’s the perfect way that a sexual union should happen…This is special and it needs to be seen as special.”
~Rick Santorum
Because outlawing birth control is a sure way to get the youth vote.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:30 am
GOP darling pollster Scott Rasmussen is pretty Johnny on the spot when it comes to favoring the GOP on polls that cannot be proven.
Rasmussen, after a few credible POTUS polls, has taken that credence and cashed it in on hypotheticals.
February 7th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Fundies wing-nuts are the cancer of this country.
They don’t want the government to tell you what to do, but the same doesn’t go for the Church. They’re pro-life yet at the same time they are pro death penalty. They don’t want people to use contraceptives, but they don’t want abortions either. They want unfit parents to raise children that they can’t afford but they want to cut social funding that helps these people, so in essence they want to punish the people who knew they couldn’t raise a kid.
They are a confused mess and are a blight on this nation.
February 7th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@ TA
Thats one thing about the right that bothers me.
I’m in favor of early term abortion only as an ultimate last resort.
I find the lack of respect for human life mind boggling.
As a con and Christian I still cant understand why anyone would object to the day after pill, or any means of contraception used in an expeditious manner.
I do believe life begins once the fetus has its own heartbeat.
I find these faux bible thumping morons using human life for ulterior political means disgusting.
As long as Americans fck for sport I see no reason why pregnancies cant be terminated whithin a week or two
And for any of these Fire And Brimstone Scarlet letter religious politicians who think preaching abstinence or other “just say no” methods for teens and young adults is just downright ignorant , and stupid.
Abortion should not be a matter of convenience to make way for more irresponsible fcking.
Once theres a heartbeat, I challenge anyone to watch it get pulled out of its mother and discarded with medical waste. I’m I goin to hell for spilling on her belly button ?
I want my religion, private life, and possessions as far away from the government as possible. But I do not see by law why I should pay for other peoples mistakes.
“It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”
Right Rick, supposing what ?
“[Sex] is supposed to be within marriage.”
Dude, are you truly that ignorant ?
Its as bad as thinking you can cure someone of homosexuality
February 7th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Micky, stoppit – you’re making sense. This isn’t like you.
February 7th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
See, TA…
This is why you should be for my hero, Newt Gingrich – Moon President. His moon colony will require every marriage to be an open marriage in order to increase the population rapidly.
February 7th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
I’m truly torn between the Magic Mormon underwear / dog lover guy and the Family Values guy with the three wives.
Truly, I almost, ALMOST, feel sorry for the GOP this year.
February 7th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Yeah, the Conservative picks pretty much suck this time around. There are viable Republican candidates. Why they’re not running is almost a fckin crime.
But, for what its worth, its not as if Obamas constituency has grown either.
The only thing going for him is his enormous wad of cash.
If he spends it as carelessly as he did our 4-5 trillion he’ll lose by a landslide
I think this is going to an election like none we’ve ever seen before.
Both the right and the left are going to have to exert an awful lot of motivation to get to the polls while 90% of the independents sit it out.
Nobody likes anybody