Perhaps now we have found the conservative we’re looking for. I say perhaps, because another weekly news cycle will bring new information to temper the enthusiasm folks seems to have generated for Mr. Santorum. And, like the proverbial blade of grass sitting highest in the field, Santorum will become the target of the Obama hit-machine lawnmower. I’m sure they’ve already begun digging, but Santorum seems the least likely to yield any real from-the-closet skeletons.
Riding a wave of momentum from his trio of victories on Tuesday Rick Santorum has opened up a wide lead in PPPs newest national poll. Hes at 38% to 23% for Mitt Romney, 17% for Newt Gingrich, and 13% for Ron Paul.Part of the reason for Santorums surge is his own high level of popularity. 64% of voters see him favorably to only 22% with a negative one. But the other, and maybe more important, reason is that Republicans are significantly souring on both Romney and Gingrich.
Romney’s favorability is barely above water at 44/43, representing a 23 point net decline from our December national poll when he was +24 55/31. Gingrich has fallen even further. A 44% plurality of GOP voters now hold a negative opinion of him to only 42% with a positive one. Thats a 34 point drop from 2 months ago when he was at +32 60/28.Santorum is now completely dominating with several key segments of the electorate, especially the most right leaning parts of the party.
With those describing themselves as very conservative, hes now winning a majority of voters at 53% to 20% for Gingrich and 15% for Romney. Santorum gets a majority with Tea Party voters as well at 51% to 24% for Gingrich and 12% for Romney. And with Evangelicals he falls just short of a majority with 45% to 21% for Gingrich and 18% for Romney.
Lest you think the PPP poll is just an outlier, consider this from the Wall Street Journal, commenting on a Rasmussen poll about the electability of the various Republican candidates:
But how to explain recent polling from Rasmussen Reports? In a nationwide survey released this morning, President Obama’s lead over Mitt Romney in a potential head-to-head contest has swelled to 10 points, with the president capturing 50% support to Mr. Romney’s 40%. Meanwhile, Rasmussen finds that Mr. Obama leads Mr. Santorum by just four points, 46% to 42%. Another recent Rasmussen poll, focused on the key battleground state of Ohio, finds a dead heat in a potential Obama-Santorum contest. But the president leads Mr. Romney by four points among Buckeye voters. The evidence from Rasmussen clearly suggests that, at least for the moment, Mr. Santorum is the most electable Republican.
via Santorum surges into the lead – Public Policy Polling.
