Facing a sweep, humbled Romney congratulates Santorum -
LA Times
Santorum’s trifecta raises new doubts about Romney
“Yes, Colorado and Minnesota were caucus states — the turnout is skewed in such contests toward a more conservative electorate. Yes, Missouri’s primary was a “beauty contest” and didn’t award any delegates. But what Romney won’t be able to explain away is just how much more poorly he did tonight in those three states than in his 2008 showing — when he lost the GOP nomination for president.” -
John Fund
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Mr. Romney is not a strong enough candidate that he can afford more nights as bad as Tuesday -[ Nate Silver](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/g-o-p-race-has-hallmarks-of-prolonged-battle/)
"The mountain west was supposed to be a stronghold for Romney and given his money and organizational advantages, he should have coasted to victory. If he can lose in Colorado, he's theoretically beatable anywhere." - [Washington Examiner](http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/scattered-thoughts-romneys-terrible-tuesday/364231)
“From Missouri to Minnesota to Colorado the Republican electorate sent a very clear signal — they want conviction over electability. They do not like Mitt Romney. They see Santorum as authentic. They see Mitt Romney as a fraud. Rick Santorum swept the races. Romney, the front runner, got crushed by conservatives.” -
RedState
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"Mitt Romney lost. He lost to a guy who lost his home state by 18 points the last time he was on the ballot there. There's a technical term in political consulting for a performance like that: it's called sucking. If Romney can't beat Rick Santorum, he needs to find another party to run in." - Paul Begala at the [Daily Beast](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/07/paul-begala-santorum-spanks-romney-in-midwestern-primaries.html)
…but
NPR still bets on Romney: “Romney has the money and organization to play it big in the lead up to Super Tuesday — it’s hard not to think that it will change the momentum of the Republican presidential primary race.”
Santorum should get ready for a wave of negative ads from Romney -
Weekly Standard
Jonathan Tobin warns Romney against going negative (again): “The spectacle of the frontrunner trying to demolish the character of another conservative rival may not go down well with the GOP grass roots, especially since Santorum has avoided the sort of class warfare and personal attacks that Gingrich launched at Romney.”
Byron York says Santorum has re-emerged because of Romney/Gingrich mudslinging: “I think this started in Florida, when Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich went at each other with such personal attacks,” says Chuck Laudner, a longtime ally of Rick Santorum, calling late on election night from Minneapolis. “They weren’t really on the issues. It was investments and name calling, and I think it turned people off. People here looked at that and said there’s got to be an alternative.”
“Of the eight nominating contests so far, Mr. Santorum has now won four, while Mr. Romney has won three and Newt Gingrich one—a tally that seemed unlikely on a few days ago.” - WSJ | New York Times
**Gingrich and Santorum should co-operate before Super Tuesday and then once they’ve proved the “anti-Romney” candidate can win they should showdown against each other **- Robert Stacey McCain for the
Weekly Standard
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Santorum needs Gingrich to drop out - [Ross Douthat](http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/santorums-turn/)
Colorado turnout turndown sends flashing alert about voter enthusiasm -
WSJ
Gingrich focuses on Ohio -
New York Times
“The Republican presidential contest dips into a lull now. The candidates will not have a chance to rekindle their supporters’ enthusiasm until a debate in Arizona on Feb. 22, and the next voting will not be until Feb. 28, when Arizona and Michigan hold primaries.” -
New York Times
Average national ratings: Romney 34.5%, Gingrich 23%, Santorum 17.5%, Paul 14.3% -
RCP
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