Primary Recap: Rick Santorum Revives GOP's Romney Rebuke

Three primary wins crown the former Penn. senator a poster boy for anti-Romney movement.

It’s happened again: former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will spend the rest of the week spinning assertions by pundits that he can’t close the deal with hardcore conservatives. (That’s because he really can’t!)

Romney has former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum to thank. The evangelical candidate won Tuesday’s caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado, and a ceremonial primary in Missouri.

ALSO READ: Did Obama Flip Flop On His Criticisms Of Super PACs

Although his primary wins now total four, just one more than Romney, Santorum has not trounced the former governor in the delegate count. (That’s what really matters. He’ll need to pick up somewhere close to 1,144 to have a shot at winning the nomination.)

Romney’s camp can’t deny that Santorum’s brand of politics, his impressive debate performances, and his avoiding the “out-of-touch,” “Washington hypocrite” labels are increasingly appealing to the Republican base.

That may be why the Romney campaign and “unaffiliated” super PACs will prepare a fresh round of “shock and awe” attacks to stifle any momentum Santorum is gaining. In the case of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, it’s worked for the Romney camp.

Santorum doesn’t have the same vulnerabilities that Gingrich had coming into the race. With the exception of a few cringe-worthy, racially tinged moments, Santorum has avoided weeks of attacks concerning his positions on moral and social issues.

According to recent state polling, not one of the three important upcoming primaries (Michigan, Arizona and Ohio) projects Santorum will pick up more wins. Santorum can shift those numbers with a solid performance in the next debate on CNN, Feb. 22.

A good swath of the base doesn’t like Gingrich. Too many are unsure of Romney. And not enough of Republican voters outside of hardcore religious conservatives are stoked about Santorum.

Just short of throwing out a Craigslist ad for new GOP presidential candidates, Santorum may be the Republican Party’s only viable anti-Romney. View video of Santorum's Tuesday night vicotry speech: