On one level, the results brought a touch of chaos into the GOP race, but on another, it was a return to the familiar storyline: the struggle of conservatives in the party's base to overcome their misgivings about Romney and get in line, or instead to settle on a viable alternative and take Romney down.
Now, strategists and analysts said, Santorum has to broaden his coalition and dramatically increase his fundraising to prove he is a viable long-term challenger who can match Romney's well-financed and well-organized campaign.
Santorum said Wednesday that he had raised $250,000 overnight online, and he told CNN that the Republican campaign to pick the party's challenger to President Obama was heading into "no man's land."
He will have the benefit of a lull in voting until Feb. 28, when Arizona and Michigan hold primaries - time in which to raise money and regroup without the possibility of a momentum-killing loss. On the other hand, except for a nationally televised candidates' debate Feb. 22 in Mesa, Ariz., Santorum may largely be out of the headlines will while Romney also recharges.
On Friday, both candidates along with rival Newt Gingrich are scheduled to address the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Santorum has also arranged fundraising events this weekend in California, and will follow with campaigning in Washington state, then Ohio and Michigan.
So far, Santorum is at least the fifth surging candidate to try to become the anti-Romney; all before him have faded under scrutiny. The latest was Gingrich, who won the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21 only to be crushed by Romney in Florida 10 days later. Gingrich did not contest the three states that voted Tuesday, and did not even qualify to be on the Missouri ballot.
