◼ Recent Rasmussen polls suggests that, at least for the moment, Mr. Santorum is the most electable Republican. - James freeman/Wall St. Journal
The Beltway wisdom is that moderate Mitt Romney is the most marketable candidate to non-Republicans and therefore the most electable candidate in the GOP field. Rick Santorum, on the other hand, is widely viewed as too conservative on social issues to appeal broadly to American voters. Even though Mr. Santorum has won more states than anyone in the Republican primary and caucus process, his wins have been written off as special situations where evangelical Christians enjoy outsized influence.
But how to explain recent polling from Rasmussen Reports? In a nationwide survey released this morning, President Obama's lead over Mitt Romney in a potential head-to-head contest has swelled to 10 points, with the president capturing 50% support to Mr. Romney's 40%. Meanwhile, Rasmussen finds that Mr. Obama leads Mr. Santorum by just four points, 46% to 42%. Another recent Rasmussen poll, focused on the key battleground state of Ohio, finds a dead heat in a potential Obama-Santorum contest. But the president leads Mr. Romney by four points among Buckeye voters. The evidence from Rasmussen clearly suggests that, at least for the moment, Mr. Santorum is the most electable Republican.... Read the rest
