“Rick Santorum won the Kansas caucuses in a rout on Saturday and Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney countered in Wyoming, a weekend prelude to suddenly pivotal Southern primary showdowns in the week ahead,” the Boston Globe writes. “Gingrich, struggling for survival in the race, can ill afford a loss in either Mississippi or Alabama. Romney is seeking a Southern breakthrough to demonstrate an ability to win the support of evangelical voters. For his part, Santorum hopes to knock Gingrich out of the race and finally emerge as Romney's sole challenger from the right.
The New York Daily News puts it this way: “Rick Santorum snagged another Midwestern triumph Saturday — even as Mitt Romney continued his steady collection of delegates.”
GINGRICH: “In talk show appearances Sunday, Gingrich attacked Santorum for his economic policies, and said he will not drop out and give Santorum a chance to go head to head with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney,” the Boston Globe notes, adding, “Santorum and Gingrich were both in Mississippi on Sunday, and both plan to travel to Alabama on Monday. Romney campaigned in Mississippi and Alabama Thursday and Friday.”
“Newt Gingrich will be fighting for his political life — or at least for the survival of his presidential campaign — when Republican voters in Alabama and Mississippi go to the polls Tuesday,” The Hill writes. “Gingrich needs to win at least one, and perhaps both, of the Deep South states if he is to sustain the only credible remaining argument for his candidacy: that the region at the cultural heart of the GOP is behind him.”
Gingrich said of Alabama and Mississippi on Fox: “I think we’ll win both. We’re campaigning very aggressively in both states.”
Gingrich plays network executive.
ROMNEY: The New York Post: “It’s all adding up for Mitt Romney. Top Republicans yesterday said the former Massachusetts governor has amassed so many delegates that he’s destined to be the GOP presidential nominee.”
The New York Daily News looks at the challenges for Romney in the South.
The Natural: Romney in Mississippi Friday: “Morning, y’all. I got started right this morning with a biscuit and some cheesy grits. I’ll tell you, delicious!”
Obama campaign adviser Robert Gibbs, who is from Alabama, reacted to the comments on CBS’s Face the Nation: "I wouldn't normally give Republicans, particularly Mitt Romney advice, but as a Southerner I will tell him that stuff doesn't really go over well in the Deep South.”
John McCain, a Romney backer, says everyone should “lighten up” about Romney’s sudden Southern affect. And the Washington Examiner notes that Obama said he liked grits, too.
You might be a redneck if… you back Mitt Romney? “In an effort to win over Southern voters, Mitt Romney will campaign with comedian Jeff Foxworthy in Alabama and Mississippi Monday,” The Hill writes.
Political Wire had this as its quote of the day Friday: "I'm not really a politician." -- Mitt Romney, quoted by National Journal, then correcting himself: "I guess I kinda am, because I was governor for four years and I've run for office. But my heart is a conservative businessman."
CNN notes Romney being asked about Mormonism in Alabama.
SANTORUM: “Rick Santorum built his presidential candidacy on the premise that he is very different than wealthy, establishment front-runner Mitt Romney, that he is someone who has faced the plights of the average American. Among the hardships Santorum claims to share is an underwater mortgage, the kind that's forcing millions from their homes,” the Washington Examiner says. “But the Republican presidential contender's housing situation is quite unlike the one so many other Americans actually face, according to experts and documents obtained by The Washington Examiner. Santorum bought his $2 million, five-acre home in the tony Washington suburb of Great Falls, Va., in August 2007 through a trust in a deal aided by a high-profile tax lawyer who serves as an officer for one of the largest homebuilders in the country.”
More: “Tax assessments show a nearly 25 percent drop in the house's value since its peak in early 2008 just after Santorum purchased it. Yet, while most underwater homeowners can't get refinancing needed to save their homes, Santorum got several new loans at reasonable rates over the years. And while millions already lost their homes or risk that daunting prospect, Santorum faces no such threat.”
He wouldn’t say on Meet the Press if Gingrich should get out: “I didn’t ask Speaker Gingrich to get in, I’m not going to ask him to get out.” But he also said, “I'd like everybody to get out.”
Maybe Gingrich would take being VP?
