Republican long shot Rick Santorum poked holes in Mitt Romney's aura of inevitability Tuesday night with a trio of upset victories that shifted the dynamic of the 2012 presidential contest.
The former Pennsylvania senator's wins in the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and Missouri primary were setbacks for Romney, the national front-runner, who had been expected to cruise easily through a series of relatively minor February voter tests. He must now wait three weeks to regroup, when Arizona and Michigan hold what suddenly are shaping up as unexpectedly important primaries.
In remarks to delirious supporters in St. Charles, Mo., Santorum took a swipe at Romney's big advantage in money and the negative ads he's used to defeat his opponents in previous states. He also lashed out at President Obama, describing him as someone "who thinks he knows better" and doesn't listen to the American people. Rick Santorum, the former Senator from Pennsylvania, on Wednesday won the Republican caucuses in three states, reshaping the party’s primary race and staking out his claim to be the main alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney.
Santorum’s victory in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado caucuses is a setback to Romney, who after two consecutive wins in Florida and Nevada was considered as the front-runner for the Republican primary.
53-year-old Santorum has so far won four States including his razor thin victory over Romney in Iowa. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has won three.
Newt Gingrich, the former House of Representatives Speaker, has won South Carolina primary. Fourth candidate Ron Paul, the Texas Congressman, has not won any state so far.
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