By Mark Rhoads

For the second time since January 1, the mainstream media completely missed a surge by Rick Santorum last night. Three states is one night is not nothing especially when Mitt Romney carried Colorado in 2008 with a huge margin over John McCain. Finally Santorum will overcome the Rodney Dangerfield curse and get some respect from the D.C. media pundits.

Santorum will also become a magnet for brickbats but that goes with the territory. Newt was not on the ballot in Missouri but that, like Virginia, only showed the incompetence of his campaign and he in effect is his own campaign manager. Newt ran last in Minnesota and third in Colorado so his shaky claim to be the only or leading conservative alternative to Romney has now vanished. Santorum has now won four states including Iowa, Newt has won one state, South Carolina, and Romney has won New Hampshire, Florida, and Nevada. The Santorum win over Romney in Colorado was convincing. There is now a conservative frontrunner and it is Rick Santorum, the forgotten candidate, until last night.

Also published in Illinois Review