Public Policy Polling. Pennsylvania Republican primary voters. 4/4. ±4.9%. (3/8-11
results.)
Mitt Romney: 42 (25)
Rick Santorum: 37 (43)
Ron Paul: 9 (9)
Newt Gingrich: 6 (13)
Especially in light of the delegate count and Romney's twin-killing in Illinois and Wisconsin, these numbers are basically the polling equivalent of a laugh track as Santorum slinks out the back door. (Sorry about that, I couldn't resist.)
Amazingly, however, Santorum is still trying to project confidence:
"The people of Pennsylvania know me," Santorum said while meeting voters at a diner here. "All of the negative attacks I think are going to fall on a lot of deaf ears. We've got a strong base of support here and we're going to work very, very hard. Then we're going to get into May. May looks very, very good."
Sure enough, there's a number of southern contests in May that Santorum could win. And while it would be somewhat embarrassing for Romney if that happens, it won't change the outcome of the nomination contest. But it would drag things out, and force Romney to wait until June to hit his magic number. For that reason alone, I guess I'm rooting for Santorum to decide to soldier on, but I wouldn't count on it, and at this point it won't make much difference either way.