Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum won a Public Policy Polling poll of likely voters in the Minnesota Caucuses Sunday. Mr. Santorum bested former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by 2 percentage points (29 to 27). Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich finished in third with 22 percent of the votes. Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) trailed Mr. Gingrich by 3 percentage points (19-22).
Although Mr. Santorum finished in fourth place in the Nevada Caucuses, the Pennsylvania Republican is hoping that the Minnesota Caucuses will be a repeat of January 3rd’s Iowa Caucuses.
“I ask you to reset this race. Create an opportunity for someone who can speak to Americans about what America is all about,” Mr. Santorum told supporters in Weld County, Colorado Saturday after learning of Mr. Romney’s victory in the Nevada Caucuses, according to The Associated Press.
Mr. Romney’s path to the Republican presidential nomination is growing clearer as the Bain Capital co-founder racks up early election victories. While Mr. Santorum could steal some momentum away from Mr. Romney with a victory in the Minnesota Caucuses Tuesday, the former Massachusetts governor gathers steam with every victory.
“Tuesday has the potential to be a huge day for both Romney and Santorum,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, in a press release.
“A sweep for Romney would do much to enhance the feeling that he’s unstoppable. Wins for Santorum in Minnesota and Missouri would make it clear he’s a more viable alternative to Romney than Gingrich and give him a lot of momentum for the road ahead. And it looks like it will be another dark day for
Gingrich, whose campaign it appears peaked two weeks ago in South Carolina,” Mr. Debnam added.
Public Policy Polling interviewed 410 likely Republican caucus voters in Minnesota on February 4th. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points.
