1.) Santorum Soars — Stories of Rick Santorum’s political demise seem to have been premature. Since edging out Mitt Romney to win the Iowa caucuses, Santorum hasn’t experienced another victory — until Tuesday. The AP reports:
“A resurgent Rick Santorum won Minnesota’s Republican presidential caucuses with ease Tuesday night and was declared the victor in Colorado as well, a stunning sweep that raised fresh questions about front-runner Mitt Romney’s appeal among the ardent conservatives at the core of the party’s political base. Santorum triumphed, as well, in a nonbinding Missouri primary that was worth bragging rights but no delegates.”
It is unclear by time of publication whether Newt Gingrich called Santorum Tuesday night to suggest he drop out of the race.
2.) How to end a radio career in one easy step: Debate Tucker — If there is any justice in the world, Tucker Carlson ended a radio career Monday night when he devastated a 9/11 Truther on the poor sap’s own show. TheDC’s David Martosko reports on the crucifixion of radio host Scott Ledger:
“’I deal in facts,’ Carlson told Ledger, ‘and you don’t have any.’ Truthers, he said, ‘tend to give off this feeling of, like, great frustration. Like ‘I see the truth, no one else gets this. Everyone should see this but I’m the only one who does.’ … It makes me sad that otherwise smart people could fall for nonsense like that.”
You will feel humiliated for Ledger listening to him take blow after blow without any cogent reply. The whole hour-long interview is well worth a listen as Tucker calls out the host’s “embarrassing litany of ignorance.”
3.) Why not The Rock for president? Seriously — Many on the right are unhappy with the cast of candidates currently running for the GOP nomination. So perhaps they should take a look at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. TheDC’s Taylor Bigler reports:
“‘In an interview with Moviefone, Johnson explains how he found out about Osama bin Laden’s death, and his political aspirations … ‘One day, and that day will come, I can impact the world through politics,’ he said. ‘The great news is that I am American, therefore I can become President. But don’t forget: I am G.I. Joe.'”
If you are not quite sure what that exactly means, you surely aren’t the only one. But the real question is who should be his running mate? Rick Flair or Hulk Hogan?
4.) Gingrich livin’ on a prayer in Virginia — Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum didn’t qualify for the Virginia primary ballot and write-ins are not allowed in the state, but that doesn’t stop the Gingrich campaign hoping that somehow they will. TheDC’s Steven Nelson reports:
“Write-in votes will not be tabulated under current election rules, leaving Gingrich and Santorum supporters with few options. Asked about the dilemma, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond told The Daily Caller the campaign remains ‘hopeful the legislature will act to allow write-ins.’ A source close to the Republican legislative leadership in Virginia, however, noted that one such bill was recently dropped by its sponsor, and that any subsequent attempt to change the rules would require an emergency clause if it were to take effect before July 1.”
5.) Poll of the Day — Reuters/Ipsos national GOP primary poll: Mitt Romney 29%, Ron Paul 21%, Newt Gingrich 19%, Rick Santorum 18%.
6.) BIRTHDAYS! — Yaroslav II of Russia turns 821; economist Joseph Schumpeter turns 129 (h/t Mitt Romney); Burmese politician Ba Maw turns 119; broadcaster Ted Koppel turns 72 (h/t Koppel’s toupee).