◼ The question now ahead of an unusual gap between nominating contests is whether last night represented a minor hiccup or a major setback for the former Massachusetts governor's hopes to win the GOP nomination. - Michael A. Memoli/LA Times
Despite the losses, the delegate math is unchanged. The caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado only started the delegate apportionment process in those states. And Missouri's primary was a nonbinding "beauty contest" -- the state GOP opted to hold caucuses next month when the legislature failed to move the primary to March to comply with new rules from both parties.
According to the Republican National Committee, Romney still leads the GOP field with 73 delegates. Gingrich has won 29, Paul 8, Santorum 3, and 30 are unbound. That's exactly where it stood Monday, too....
The biggest advantage Romney still has is in numbers. Had Santorum not succeeded as he did Tuesday, the pressure would have built for him to get out of the race. Instead, he and Newt Gingrich will still be fighting a two-front war, to establish themselves as the strongest "anti-Romney" and then to take on Romney himself.
