"Frothy Mix" Wins Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota

I guess Colorado needs to be added to the list of states where water quality needs to be investigated - Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum (pictured above with his wife, the former long term mistress of an abortion doctor) won the GOP presidential nomination contest in that state as well. Of course, the other explanation was that voter turn out was low and it was the Kool-Aid drinking set that went to the polls yesterday. As noted last night, the good news for rational, cognitive citizens is that the GOP circular firing squad will continue with Mitt Romney likely trying to track so far to the lunatic right that he may be damaged goods should he eventually win the nomination. Meanwhile, I suspect the so-called Republican establishment is none to pleased with the prospect of Frothy Mix as the party nominee. The Obama camp, in contrast is likely salivating at the prospect of an extremist like Santorum continuing to remain in the GOP fray. The New York Times looks at the reactions to yesterday's GOP circus performance. Here are highlights.

His candidacy all but dismissed just days ago, Rick Santorum won the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and a nonbinding primary in Missouri on Tuesday, an unexpected trifecta that raised fresh questions about Mitt Romney’s ability to corral conservative support.

With his triumphs, Mr. Santorum was also suddenly presenting new competition to Newt Gingrich as the chief alternative to Mr. Romney, the front-runner. Where Mr. Gingrich has won one state, South Carolina, Mr. Santorum has now won four, including Iowa. His performance added another twist to an unruly nominating contest that has seen Republican voters veering among candidates and refusing to coalesce behind anyone.

The results on Tuesday shook the political world, which appeared to once again make the mistake of believing the Republican race for the presidency was finally set on a stable trajectory. But it was an open question whether the defeats were a momentary embarrassment or a prolonged setback for Mr. Romney. His disappointing night notwithstanding, Mr. Romney goes into the next round of primaries and caucuses much better financed than his opponents in what will be much more of a nationwide campaign, capped off by the 11 Super Tuesday competitions on March 6.

[H]is victory in Colorado was a genuine upset in a state that Mr. Romney easily carried in 2008. Combined with the victory in Minnesota, it gave him an important lift that his campaign hoped would translate into an infusion of new donations and support from the conservative Republican voters — evangelicals and Tea Party adherents — who have told pollsters all year that they are searching for someone whom they view as a true conservative.

Mr. Romney’s aides played down the significance of the night, noting that he did not compete very hard, especially in Missouri, and adding that four years ago Senator John McCain had lost many state races before ultimately winning the nomination.

If there was any bright spot for Mr. Romney, it was that Mr. Santorum’s new strength promised to potentially split the anti-Romney vote in two with Mr. Gingrich, reducing its potential threat. Speaking before the results in Ohio, where he was campaigning, Mr. Gingrich said the results should raise doubts about what has been portrayed as Mr. Romney’s inexorable march to the nomination.

Mr. Romney is hoping to do well in the elections in Arizona and Michigan in three weeks, as well as in the Super Tuesday contests next month, when he is expected use his organizational and financial advantages to maximum effect.

Get out the popcorn and get set to watch the continuing circus.