Santorum Still Rising

Well, if we out here thought that the Rick Santorum surge was a flash, it is one at the right time as another poll shows the former Pennsylvania senator at third place and rising.
Yesterday was the CNN/Time poll showing Mr. Santorum in third place at 16%. Today it is Rasmussen Reports also showing Mr. Santorum at third and 16%. And when you look at the Real Clear Politics polling average, guess who is in fourth and marginally trailing the former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich? Yep, it is Rick Santorum.
As I will continue to write, I am not making any endorsement of any kind.
But I caught the Gingrich Buzz before most of the experts. And same with the Santorum Surge.
The so-called political pros, pundits and analysts are getting a lot of this wrong.
All this "anti-Romney" talk is misplaced.
It is people looking for the most electable conservative. And that is why everyone is getting a look. To see if they are. Mitt Romney has the numbers that he has because he is the only candidate from 2008. People in Iowa know who he is. And believe me, if he showed the fire that he needs to, he would be leading a lot more in Iowa.
But Rick Santorum is peaking at the right time. A time that should gain him some GOP convention delegates. A time that voters in New Hampshire may take a real look and turn to him as the most electable conservative.
If Mr. Santorum continues to do well, he may do one of two things.
One, he could be the candidate to be the one that some GOP voters will rally to after all others collapse. It will happen. It could be Santorum vs. Romney down to the wire next summer in Tampa at the Republican convention.
Second, he maybe the one that a possible Romney nominee will pick to be vice-president. Think about it. If in the end it is Mr. Romney as the GOP nominee, he will need to do two things. Shore up support among So Cons. And have someone with Washington experience. And Mr. Santorum would fit both nicely. Oh, a third thing would be appealing to blue-collar Roman Catholics as Mr. Santorum also fits that bill.
Whatever the long term holds, there is no doubt that the Santorum Surge is real and should have other candidates very worried.