WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney’s carefully plotted path to the Republican presidential nomination is now a long, unpredictable journey that could last months.
The next major tests are primaries Feb. 28 in Arizona and Michigan, where Romney has been heavily favored. A week later, Ohio and nine other states will vote on March 6, Super Tuesday, when the former Massachusetts governor was hoping to all but clinch the nomination.
Not anymore.
With victories Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, Rick Santorum became a threat. The sweep by the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania exposed long-held voter qualms about Romney, and conservatives are likely to take a fresh look at Santorum.
“I don’t think this changes the title of front-runner [for Romney], but it underscores the fundamental problem he has with the party base,” said Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “They just don’t trust him, and they don’t connect to him personally. He has serious, serious problems.”
Arizona and Michigan have strong conservative bases. Santorum’s faith-and-family message could appeal to them.
Super Tuesday’s most closely watched race is likely to be Ohio, the kind of diverse swing state that a general-election candidate historically has to win. Romney faces the same conservative suspicion in Ohio that he does elsewhere.
As a result, “It’s a volatile state,” said Paul Beck, a professor of political science at Ohio State University.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited the state Wednesday and spoke to a small crowd of manufacturing workers in Cleveland.
In his only scheduled public appearance for the next two days, the former House speaker made no mention of his poor showing in Colorado and Minnesota..
Instead, he said the United States could pay a terrible price if Iran develops nuclear weapons.
“You think about the dangers, to Cleveland, or to Columbus, or to Cincinnati, or to New York,” Gingrich told employees of the Jergens metal manufacturing plant. “Remember what it felt like on 9/11 when 3,100 Americans were killed. Now imagine an attack where you add two zeros. And it’s 300,000 dead. Maybe a half million wounded. This is a real danger. This is not science fiction. That’s why I think it’s important that we have the strongest possible national security.”
Santorum also announced plans to visit Ohio sometime next week.
Super Tuesday also will provide opportunities for Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who is pushing hard in caucuses. Gingrich is eyeing Oklahoma, Tennessee and Georgia.
Gingrich has Southern roots, having represented an Atlanta-area district for 20 years. His only victory so far came last month in neighboring South Carolina, where his angry-man, populist appeal propelled him to a big win.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
