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Louisiana Not Looking Good for Romney

But Mitt gets near-endorsement from DeMint

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 23, 2012 3:08 AM CDT | Updated Mar 23, 2012 7:42 AM CDT

(Newser) – Louisiana holds its Republican primary tomorrow, and the state probably won't snap Mitt Romney's Southern losing streak, analysts say. Romney hasn't spent much time or money there, and its high proportion of conservative voters and relatively low household income make it fertile ground for Rick Santorum, the Wall Street Journal finds. Public Policy Polling's numbers back that up: It has Santorum up 42% to 28%, with Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul bringing up the rear once again, at 18% and 8%, respectively.

Some 20 delegates are up for grabs in the last primary until Maryland, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC, vote on April 3. And with four candidates still in the race, this is the first meaningful Louisiana primary since the state's GOP started holding them in 1980, USA Today notes. The vote comes as Republican leaders step up calls for the party to get behind the front-runner. After a meeting with Romney, South Carolina's Jim DeMint, one of the Senate's most outspoken conservatives, said it was time for his rivals to do some "self reflection." He stopped short of endorsing Romney but said he was not only comfortable with him, he was "excited about the possibility of him possibly being our nominee."

Rick Santorum greets supporters before speaking at Superior Energy in Harvey, Louisiana.
Rick Santorum greets supporters before speaking at Superior Energy in Harvey, Louisiana.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A Republican delegate in Houma, Louisiana holds up an Etch A Sketch with a NO ROMNEY banner during a Gingrich campaign stop.
A Republican delegate in Houma, Louisiana holds up an Etch A Sketch with a "NO ROMNEY" banner during a Gingrich campaign stop.   (AP Photo/The Houma Daily Courier, Michael Conti)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
USLady
Mar 23, 2012 7:59 PM CDT
There is not any reason why Romney cannot win the south, Santorum is way to dramatic and he is not the one to beat Obama and lead this country.
RedinDenver
Mar 23, 2012 9:25 AM CDT
Not surprising Santorum  wins in states which have a large number of people who evidently don't believe in religious tolerance, who have, at the MOST, a high school/GED degree, and who earn less than $50k, etc. etc.  I'm an Independent and want to see Obama defeated; but could not vote for Santorum (or Gingrich, for that matter). 
homey
Mar 23, 2012 7:43 AM CDT
That's because the south is full of so many intelligent people.  That is why half the voters in Mississippi think he is a Muslim.   I don't care who you vote for, but please be able to have a real, coherent thought in your head, to make up your mind.
 

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