Santorum Has Earned the Right for This to Be a Two-Man Race

About Ford O'Connell:

Ford O'Connell is a Republican strategist, conservative activist, and political analyst. A frequent commentator on Fox News, CNN, and other broadcast media, he worked on the 2008 McCain-Palin presidential campaign. He also writes on U.S. News’s Thomas Jefferson Street politics blog.

Anyone who says they predicted Rick Santorum would win both the Mississippi and Alabama primaries yesterday is either (a) lying or (b) a Santorum supporter.

But, somehow, Santorum and his makeshift campaign prevailed. This was bad news for Mitt Romney, who hoped to dispel doubts he could appeal to the base with a victory in a Deep South state.

But it was the death knell for Newt Gingrich, who finished a disappointing second in both states in what was widely viewed as his last best chance to reverse his crumbling fortunes.

As such, it's time for Gingrich to get out and to take Ron Paul with him.

For weeks now, Gingrich's ego and casino mogul Sheldon Adelson's money have been all that have stood between a true fight for the right between Romney and Santorum. Now, neither Gingrich nor Paul has a plausible path to the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination.

[See a collection of political cartoons on Newt Gingrich.]

Both can continue to spend money. Both can continue to splinter the electorate. Both can attempt to position themselves for kingmaking in Tampa. But they can't win, and they need to get out.

Republicans need to clear the field so the top two candidates and their constituencies—Santorum and the right; Romney and the establishment—can have it out. If Romney is going to carry the GOP banner, he must prove he can beat Santorum straight up.

At first, Romney banked on inevitability—he was going to win anyway, so learn to love him now. Then, it was electability—he was the only one with a hope of defeating President Obama. The first argument obviously is dead and, if recent polling is accurate, the second is on its last legs.

[See photos of Newt Gingrich.]

In an ABC News/Washington Post survey released March 12, Romney leads President Obama, 49-47, but Santorum trails by just 49-46—both within the margin of error.

If President Obama can't show some progress on gas prices, the deficit, and the economy by November, even a third candidate selected at a brokered convention could pose a threat.

It's time Republicans begin to look beyond the primaries to November and to start to identify which candidate can beat President Obama in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia—the states on which the election likely will turn.

And for that to happen, Gingrich and Paul need to get out and give the GOP the one-on-one competition it needs.

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Tags:

2012 presidential election,

Newt Gingrich