Open Thread: Santoramentum in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota? (Update: Santorum Wins Missouri and Minnesota)

We don’t know who will win any of the three states in play tonight, but we do know how many delegates Rick Santorum will finish the night with: Three. The same number of delegates he’s starting the night with. None are at stake, so turnout is…about what you’d expect in meaningless contests. That’s not stopping brave attempts at hyping these things up, though.

Update: Missouri results are starting to come in. Santorum leads strongly there so far. Total delegates earned: Zero.

Minnesota results are coming in too, and Santorum leads there as well with Paul in second. Total delegates earned: Zero.

Colorado results will be here. Total delegates…eh, you get the idea.

Update: Rick Santorum has won Missouri, racking up over 54% of the vote in a totally meaningless contest. If trends hold, he’ll win Minnesota and Colorado as well. Romney did win Colorado in 2008 with over 60% of the vote.

Update: And Santorum has won Minnesota. Will he make it three?

Update: Really?

By winning in Missouri, Santorum proved three things:

1) That Romney can lose

South Carolina already proved that.

2) That he can beat Romney head-to-head under the right set of circumstances

You mean, when Romney is preserving his money for contests that award delegates?

3) That this race isn’t yet over

We already knew that. Gingrich is hurt more by Santorum’s wins than Romney is, as Gingrich has now been shunted to the side in what’s left of the not-Romney race. Hm…..

Update: That Pawlenty endorsement is sure paying off, isn’t it?

Update: Nota bene–

Colorado is a non-binding precinct caucus. Their 36 delegates will be chosen at district conventions held between March 31 – April 13, 2012, and at the state convention on April 14, 2012.

Minnesota is a non-binding precinct caucus. Their 40 delegates will be chosen at district conventions held between April 14 – 21, 2012, and at a state convention on May 5, 2012. Delegates are not bound unless the state convention passes a resolution to bind the delegates.

Romney losing Colorado puts a dent in his fender, but, the state’s actual delegates to the RNC convention won’t be chosen until April. The same goes for Minnesota. That’s well after the March 6 Super Tuesday primaries, during which nearly 500 delegates will be at stake across 10 states. That day is a big test for all of the remaining candidates — widespread geography, will require big money, serious organization, strategic thinking, etc. This day is not that day.

There’s no “PJM narrative” at work here, folks. Obama administration delenda est is my motto. I’d root for the Sweet Meteor of Death if it would promise to repeal ObamaCare and appoint strict constructionists to the courts.