Was yesterday Super Tuesday? Only three states had contests, and one was a beauty primary commanding no delegates. On the other hand, it was the first day in which there were races in more than one state, more delegates were selected yesterday than on any day of the primary season so far, and about 365,000 votes were cast.
More important, though, February 7 could prove to have been Super Tuesday if it turns out to be a key inflection point in the campaign. We’ll see what happens in the days, weeks, and months to come. But if Mitt Romney’s weaknesses persist—and especially if Romneycare turns out to be as formidable weapon as it now seems to be in the hands of Rick Santorum; if establishment figures like former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and Missouri senator Roy Blunt continue to be unable to deliver votes in their states; if Santorum now passes Newt Gingrich in national Republican surveys, continues to do better than Gingrich (and than Romney?) in poll match-ups against President Obama, and over the next weeks becomes the conservative alternative to Romney; if national conservative and grassroots leaders (Sarah Palin?) and local ones in key states now rally to Santorum; and, above all, if Santorum can follow through with strong showings on February 28 in Michigan and/or Arizona—then February 7 will have proven to be a kind of Super Tuesday in its effects on the 2012 GOP presidential fight.
