Santorum takes it to Romney in Colorado

(LIN) – On Tuesday night, emerging victorious wasn’t the presidential candidate who won the Centennial State in the GOP caucus four years earlier. It was the newcomer.

“I don't stand here to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, I stand here to be the conservative alternative to [President] Barack Obama,” said former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., the jubilant winner of the night’s returns.

It was a stinging rebuke to former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., who campaigned heavily in Colorado and won handily there in 2008 with 61 percent of support.

"He had a wonderful organization here,” said Colorado State Rep. B.J. Nikkel of Romney’s team in 2008. “They were well, well organized at that time and they basically took so many of the caucuses it was phenomenal.”

Unfortunately for Romney, his organization couldn’t carry him through to victory four years later.

"This was a good night for Rick Santorum, but I still expect to become the nominee," Romney said to supporters in Denver following the news. "I look forward to the contest to come."

Looking ahead may pose a challenge to Romney as any momentum that he had after his Nevada and Florida wins was deftly thrown out the window.

Furthermore, instead of focusing his attention on Obama in the general election, Romney is now forced to look in the rearview mirror at yet another “anybody-but-Romney” challenger for the GOP nomination.

How Santorum did it

Santorum’s approach in Colorado was vastly similar to his Iowa strategy. Limited by finances, the former lawmaker appealed to the masses through a variety of meetings and speeches. He targeted tea party leaders and social conservatives, pitching himself as the only man in the race that could beat Obama in the fall.

He also had a head start on the other candidates.

Sensing he couldn’t win in the Florida primary on Jan. 31, Santorum departed the Sunshine State a day early. Like a political veteran, he hammered his opponents.

“I’m sick and tired of candidates who think they have to do anything that’s necessary — anything — to win an election,” he said.

That message was aimed at the frontrunners, Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., who were squabbling publicly.

At stops in Colorado, Santorum lumped Romney in with Obama, a popular move inside conservative circles that have concerns about the moderate Romney.

“There were people in our party who flirted with Obamacare,” Santorum said at a stop in Woodland Park, Colo. “Romneycare, Obamacare, all these plans, they don’t care.”

He also bashed Gingrich for claiming responsibility for victories during his tenure as speaker.

"He's like the CEO of the company taking credit for making the car,” Santorum said.

In the end, Santorum’s momentum was too much for anyone to handle. When the final results were tallied, his 40 percent support in Colorado and wins in Minnesota and Missouri provided his presidential campaign with a much needed boost.

Looking ahead

Where Santorum goes from here is clear. His upset win in Colorado proved that there are enough Republicans on the fence to make any state up for grabs.

The next big prizes are Michigan and Arizona, where primaries are scheduled for Feb. 28.

Santorum may opt to focus more on Arizona, as Michigan is largely considered Romney-territory after his father’s tenure as governor from 1963-1969.

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