Santorum wins on caucus night in Minnesota
Decisive victory shakes up Republican nomination process
by Tad Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers
The night held little suspense for Rick Santorum and the other Republicans fighting for the party’s nomination during Minnesota caucuses Tuesday.
Santorum, a Pennsylvania senator, raced out to an early lead, garnering over 40 percent of the non-binding straw poll votes with less than 3 percent of precincts reporting by about 9:30 p.m., according to the party.
His lead held up through the night remaining the 40s and closing at last report at 44.8 percent as of about midnight.
The decisive win in Minnesota and in the other two states holding presidential preference votes – Missouri and Colorado – means Santorum has new momentum in a race that seemed to be led by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who campaigned in Eagan on Wednesday, Feb. 1 with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, an Eagan resident and former state representative and city council member in Eagan.
Santorum spent much more time in the state, appearing in such ECM-Sun cities as Eden Prairie and Blaine.
Caucus turnout was reportedly strong in the Republican side across the state and in Dakota County – a traditional GOP stronghold.
Statewide results with 95 precincts reporting were: Santorum 21, 420 (44.8 percent); Ron Paul 13,023 (27.2 percent); Romney 8,090 (16.9 percent); and Newt Gingrich 5,128 (10.7 percent), according to AP results.
For more caucus coverage, return to ThisweekLive.com and see the Feb. 10 print edition.
Tad Johnson is at editor.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
