In a major upset, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, who was largely ignored by the national media, swept three contests on Tuesday, scoring big wins in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
Before his dramatic wins on Tuesday, Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, had not won a state since upsetting former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in the Iowa caucus.
On Tuesday, Santorum, a leading social conservative, took 40 percent in the Colorado caucus followed by Romney with 35 percent. Newt Gingrich took a distant third with 13 percent, just ahead of Ron Paul with 12 percent. The win should give Santorum 15 more delegates, while Romney is estimated to have won six delegates. Having won in Colorado and taken more than 60 percent of the vote in 2008, Romney was expected to win in the Centennial State.
In the caucus contest in Minnesota, Santorum did even better, winning an estimated 13 more delegates with 45 percent, while Paul took second with 27 percent. Romney placed third with 17 percent, ahead of Gingrich who took 11 percent.
Santorum also romped to victory in the nonbinding Missouri primary, taking 55 percent, with Romney in a distant second with 25 percent. Paul took third with 12 percent. Gingrich was not on the ballot in the Show Me State.
While Santorum is still behind Romney in the delegate count, his victories on Tuesday night show that there remains major discontent with the Republican front-runner who also lost South Carolina last month to Gingrich.
Europes largest betting company, Paddy Power, Wednesday slashed the odds on Rick Santorum winning the Republican nomination after the former Pennsylvania senator won the Republican presidential contests in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado.
As the campaign moves on to Michigan and Arizona, both of which hold their contests Feb. 28, Santorum told the media on Wednesday that he may be looking to focus on Michigan -- a state where George Romney, Mitts father, served as governor during the 1960s. Michigan, unlike Arizona, is not winner-take-all, meaning if he places second there, Santorum can win more delegates. Santorum will campaign in Texas on Wednesday
Ireland-based Paddy Power, the largest bookmaker in Europe, dramatically increased Santorums odds for winning the Republican nomination on Wednesday, moving him from a 20-1 underdog to a 9-2 rating. Romney, who had been a 1-16 favorite, dropped to 1-6. Gingrich also dropped -- from 16-1 before Tuesdays contests to 22-1, while Paul stayed at 25-1.
Rick Santorum looks to have been the real winner of the Gingrich and Romney mudslinging, said a spokesman for Paddy Power on Wednesday. Hes gotten himself right back in contention, and with all the twists and turns weve seen already in this contest I dont think we can rule anything out.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
