Rick Santorum Leads National Polls, But When Will The Roller Coaster Stop? (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- What's up with the Republican polling roller coaster this year?

On Sunday, Gallup's daily tracking poll on the Republican presidential race showed former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) moving ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by eight percentage points (36 to 28 percent) nationwide. Santorum has gained 20 points in 12 days.

Thirteen days earlier, on February 7, Romney led with 37 percent in Gallup's tracking poll, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (21 percent) and Santorum (17 percent).

On January 27, Gingrich led Romney, 32 to 26 percent.

Twelve days before that, on January 15, Romney led Gingrich, 37 to 14 percent.

And that's just the last two months. Gallup reports that the lead switched seven times more in 2011.

Why the volatility? Take a look at our quick take via video, drawing on this earlier Huffington Post report.

 

 

Comments

[just curious85]

12:09 AM on 02/27/2012

Why are there only 3 out of 4 GOP presidential candidates pictured?

The one missing from the picture is the only one that stands a chance at beating Obama.

[NILDATX]

06:06 PM on 02/22/2012

President Obama is a liar. There is nothing free from the Insurance Companies. They exist for BIG PROFITS. The premiums of the “free” contraceptives and other contraception’s methods will be postponed until the next annual premium calculation, with the reality of the claims paid. Obviously, Obama has no knowledge of Economics and prefers playing the naive roll. It is a tragedy that apparently, Obama never learned to honor his word. Obama flat lied to the Congress and the US People that the abortion would not be included in the National Health Care ACT. Obama, additionally, flat lied about given to Stupak an Executive Order eliminating the abortion from the Bill. Obama flat lied in National Television to the People and to the Congress about the National Heath Care (Obama care). No Nation can trust Obama, after tricking his own Nation. Independently of his believe, he will be accountable to God, THE GIVER OF LIFE. Abortion leaves a scar forever in the soul of the mother, no matter what.
THE SOLUTION: One National “Health” Policy and a second policy Reproduction “Choice” Policy, excluding sterile women , woman whose husband had a vasectomy, woman for religious conscience, and women no longer at risk of pregnancy. NildaTX, Independent

“I frankly don't care what deal Obama tries to cut ... If he wins re-election, he will wage war on the Catholic Church the morning after he's re-elected.”

[NILDATX]

06:04 PM on 02/22/2012

Callitsa, the White House Aide, the third wife and mistress for seven years of Gingrich, is a home wrecker and cannot be our First Lady. No way! Callitsa, is 28 yrs younger than big belly Gingrich, so he gave her the present of five figures $$$$$ credit line at Tiffany's Jewelry store for her love talents. As a first Lady, she would be excited teaching college girls how to snatch a millionaire old man from his home and his wife. Callista has no class, she can not be a roll model to the position of First Lady, with or without jewelry. SHAME ON HER!
Gingrich (Santa Claus) twists lies and truth like food in his belly. He and Obama (The Reindeer) are a team of superior arrogance, superior ego, debate skills and rhetoric blab blab. The difference is that Obama needs teleprompts, because of short memory for promises.
Romney is the only BRAIN with the capacity to turn our Economy around with two degrees from Harvard in Law and MBA. He studied ECONOMICS and applied it in his business very successfully. He is a faithful husband and family man. Women admire him and men envy him. He paid income tax according to law. He paid 15% in his investment income taxes and 25% to charity. Do you know the percentage of charity contributions from Gingrich and Obama? VERY MODEST! Less tha 1%. Nilda TX, Independent

[2Lancet]

01:55 AM on 02/25/2012

Wrong! Obama gave 27% to charity, 2% more than Romney.

[ocrmom59]

11:02 AM on 02/21/2012

Rick is not use to the fame and limelight, so he'll keeping talking the way he is until he read the polls saying he can't win and the party still looking for someone else to run. He will keep right on talking and putting his foot in his mouth and instead of looking like he is about to cry, he will be crying and blaming the media.

[Monte Mathews]

10:28 AM on 02/21/2012

The Republican Party has tilted so far to the right, it will sink like the Costa Concordia.

[2Lancet]

01:56 AM on 02/25/2012

I wish it would sink deeper than that, like the Titanic!

[Jeff Parfitt]

09:22 AM on 02/21/2012

Republicans have answered the articles questions themselves. They are looking for a Reagan candidate, which ignores the fact that Reagan was never a neo-con, and would probably be considered progressive by today's conservatism standards. Still, the GOP has engineered a vision of the Gipper that he was some kind of demi-god of the modern conservative movement, and have stated repeatedly that they're looking for someone equally empty-headed, equally maleable, and equally unaware of their own ineptitude. They want someone who places all their faith in the Bible, all their brains in the private sector, and all their positions in the evangelist-like fervor of deep red republicanism.

[trweste144]

09:20 AM on 02/21/2012

A Rick Santorum candidacy really will test just how dumb the electorate has become. While I don't fear Ricky much, I still have trepidations along the lines of "be careful what you wish for." Screwball Republican nominees often fair better than the 'next in line' party leaders who often get selected as its 'their turn.' President Obama should run away with the election if they give Rick the nod.

[eric steven]

09:59 AM on 02/21/2012

Ever heard of Diebold, Fox News and the Church Commission?

However, our President worked for a company BIC that is a CIA front so "we have nothing to worry about" regarding the upcoming election.

[trweste144]

10:12 AM on 02/21/2012

I'm not one for conspiracy theories, even plausible ones. Diebold machines are easy to hack. Fox News obviously is proven propaganda. The church commission--I could look it up, but I'm not sure off hand what it is--unless its the fellowship i.e. 'the family.'

[Brokenduck]

09:05 AM on 02/21/2012

It goes to show that the GOP NEVER wanted this race. They have been much more successful at the state and local level. They may even sacrifice control of Congress, but the presidency? They never wanted it, as can be clearly seen by the clowns they are running. We all know that the GOP is much more efficient, ruthless, and financially generous when they have a candidate that they can get behind. In 2016, that candidate will be Jeb Bush, brother of the last presidential candidate the party truly supported. Until then, I believe the GOP would rather sit back and watch the Democrats move farther and farther to the right, further fracturing the support they garnered from 2006 to 2008. All the while, the GOP is enacting legislation at the state level, from eliminating reproductive rights to the destruction of the environment. Seriously, they just do not need the Oval Office right now and they know it.

[wayneoscarbry]

09:00 AM on 02/21/2012

GOOOOO ROMNEYYYYY!!!!!

[kimleehan]

08:56 AM on 02/21/2012

This is actually a contest to see how far right-wing extremist the Republican party is, If Romney wins than its moderately extreme, Santorum, very extreme, Gingrich, extremely extreme, Paul very extremely extreme.

[exclintonsupporter]

08:50 AM on 02/21/2012

Rick KNOWS he cannot, will not be President...so, ...all I have to say is, the Pope better watch out!!!!

[JrayTo]

09:34 AM on 02/21/2012

This is true, we are talking about a man who would refer to N.Reagan and Nancy's Astrologer as D. Worshippers.

[Zilo]

08:46 AM on 02/21/2012

Republicans are split because all the choices are bad.

[exclintonsupporter]

08:51 AM on 02/21/2012

...among other reasons...f&f

[Galaxie]

09:45 AM on 02/21/2012

That is what they ordered...

[AbeMartin]

08:52 AM on 02/21/2012

If Franklin wasn't the Reverend Billy Graham's son, he would be working as an moderately successful All State insurance agent, rather than sharing his nonsensical views about everyone else's system of religious beliefs.  What in the world were the Morning Joe producers thinking when they invited him on the show?

[mervr1]

08:25 AM on 02/21/2012

The GOP doesn't even like the GOP anymore.

Lincoln, Roosevelt and Republicans of eras long gone by prior to the 1950's would be ashamed of these 21st century Repubaggers.

They in NO way represent a party that at one time was about helping the people and NOT their own pockets.

[davegstein]

09:45 AM on 02/21/2012

It will be their end.The wingnuts,baggers and haters can only focus for so long before buying into the next scam of their hate masters...

[dlp7202]

01:11 AM on 02/22/2012

Do not forget Teddy Roosevelt. If he could see whyat has happened to the GOP, he would personally destroy the party.

Look at what he did with the "bull mose" party, to get President Hayes out! This is the reasonthat Woodrow Wilson won the election (without a mandate of the people, I might add)

[ethiopia1a]

08:23 AM on 02/21/2012

I'm running out of popcorn. The Republican path to self-destruction is more entertaining than anything else I've watched on TV lately. Scrubbing ALL of the current Republican candidates? Bwhahahaha...

[Zilo]

08:47 AM on 02/21/2012

You will be sick of popcorn before this is over. :)

[Sam418]

09:32 AM on 02/21/2012

We're still waiting for your response on the other thread Mr. Logic.

How did believers read the Bible before the printing press was invented?

[Sujiai]

08:56 AM on 02/21/2012

agreed this is so entertaining, and the best reality show ever, albeit sad and grossly offensive, which incidentally make for great entertainment, I mean this stuff just writes itself. The only thing wrong with this is that it's reality,and it affects all Americans. I don't know whether it should be classified as a dark comedy or pure horror.