Anyone but Romney

ANYONE BUT ROMNEY The volatile search by the Republican right for an ABR (Anyone But Romney) has propelled a number of candidates to the front of the polls – only for them to fall like Icarus. Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum is the latest to enjoy his moment in the sun. But can the high-flying social conservative last? THE SHIFTING REPUBLICAN FAR RIGHT PERCENTAGE DECIDED VOTER SUPPORT BY CANDIDATE NEWT MICHELLE BACHMANN RICK PERRY HERMAN CAIN RICK SANTORUM JON HUNTSMAN RON PAUL MITT ROMNEY GINGRICH 17.4 JUNE 171 2011 7.2 1.8 17.4 8.5 19.5 19.3 21.6 22.6 8.3 2.6 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.6 8.1 3.2 3.3 8.6 24.4 24.4 24.4 24.9 25 9.3 9.3 9.4 10.1 7.1 3.7 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 6.9 7.1 3.7 3.7 4.2 6.9 7.1 6.9 10.2 25 24.3 24.4 10.2 11.3 3.8 3.3 3.3 JULY 25 2011 23.3 23.8 24.2 24.2 103 12.7 11.3 12 6.5 4.8 2.5 2.6 2.6 11.6 THE 11.6 6.8 10.8 11.3 11.9 23.6 6.6 BACHMANN 7.8 22.3 21.6 21.5 BUBBLE 1.8 1.9 1.9 11. 12. 12. 13.1 14.4 14.4 1.9 1.9 21.6 8.2 AUG. 21.1 2011 19.9 8.6 8.6 12.7 12.7 12.7 1.8 1.6 1.6 19.6 1.8 1.8 1.9 19.6 15 15 20.3 1.8 1.8 20.4 2.3 2.4 2.2 8.9 21 20.2 18.4 1.8 2.1 18.9 18.5 18 17 16.5 SEPT. 16.5 2011 1.8 1.8 1.3 17.3 18 18.6 2.3 2.6 2.6 2.8 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 19 19.8 19.5 19.9 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 THE 5.3 2.8 2.7 2.5 2.5 PERRY 19.4 19.4 19 BANDWAGON 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 2.3 1.8 19.6 20.6 8.9 21 21.6 21.5 22.8 2.2 2.6 1.2 1.8 2 23 22.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.3 1.8 1.8 1.7 21.6 21.7 21.8 21.8 21.9 21.7 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.3 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.2 1.6 16.4 22 22.7 23.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.7 23.5 23.9 25.3 25.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.7 2 THE 25.5 24.9 24.6 CAIN 1.9 1.6 BULGE 24.3 24 NOV. 23.8 2011 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.2 23 9.8 11 23.3 22.5 22 21.2 1.7 1.5 1.9 1.8 14.2 1.3 1.8 21.6 22.6 23.2 23.8 22 1.8 20.8 21 21.3 2.3 DEC. 20 2011 27.5 31.3 20.3 20.5 21.3 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 33.8 33.3 THE 22.3 9.3 GINGRICH 22.5 22.7 22.6 22.5 9.8 10 9.6 9.8 THE RISE CAIN EXIT 24.3 24.6 24.2 24.4 2.8 11.5 12.4 12.4 12.6 1.8 24.6 24.8 25 25.4 12.4 12.2 27.6 27.2 12.2 12.2 25.2 24.8 12.2 12.6 13 12.8 12.6 12.6 26.8 26.8 THE 22.6 22.2 9.4 27.2 BACHMANN 9.6 29.3 20 14.3 17.3 16.2 15.8 13 11.8 12.4 12.6 BYE BYE 26.3 27 FALL 16.2 16.8 16.4 164 27.2 27.8 28.8 29 15.8 14.4 12.6 13 13.2 14.4 14.4 14.5 29.4 13 16.2 163 31.2 32.2 33.1 31.6 13 13.7 14.1 14.4 14.2 14.6 14.2 14.2 14.3 14.3 THE 19.4 END OF 31 14.4 14.3 14 THE 30 29.8 29.5 27.7 THE HUNT 14 14 14.7 14.7 15.8 15.8 15.8 16.3 16.5 12.3 PERRY 28 12.3 12.5 12.8 12.5 12.8 END 27.3 27 27.5 THE GINGRICH 27.5 RISE AGAIN 27.8 12.5 27.8 28.8 28.8 16.8 16.5 16.8 12.5 12 12.3 FEB. 2012 29.5 26.8 26.6 29.6 30 33.7 33.7 12.6 12.8 12 34.5 THE 34.5 22.8 RON PAUL 34.3 32.5 SNOOZE 30.6 30.6 29 29.2 18 16.2 30.3 30.8 13.6 12 12.7 28.3 14.8 14.7 14.7 14.5 14 FALL 11.8 THE 28 27.8 27.7 28.4 12.2 12.3 12.3 12.2 12.2 SANTORUM EPIPHANY 28 12.2 12.3 28.4 33.7 MITT ROMNEY NEWT RICK SANTORUM RON PAUL GINGRICH VOTER SUPPORT BY CANDIDATE CANDIDATE CONTRIBUTIONS, SPENDING, & CASH ON HAND PERCENTAGE OF DECIDED VOTERS IN DOLLARS 35% ROMNEY O Santorum TOTAL $62,314,396 30% Romney SPENT $54,637,391 CASH $7,677,629 25% GINGRICH SANTORUM 20% TOTAL $18,141,789 TOTAL $6,669,808 O Gingrich hOPaul 15% SPENT $16,353,797 CASH $1,788,590 CASH $1,474,064 SPENT $5,215,744 10% PAUL TOTAL $30,885,783* 5% *Contributions plus a $1,000,500 transfer from previous federal campaign SPENT 0% Juhe July Aug. Sept. Ndv. Dec. CASH $1,644,815 Oct. Jah. Feb. $29,223,237 SOURCE: REAL CLEAR POLITICS AND THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION RICHARD JOHNSON / NATIONAL POST