Image source: The New York Times

BY ZACH TOOMBS AND CHRISTINA HARTMAN

It truly was a super Tuesday for Rick Santorum’s campaign.

The former Pennsylvania senator scored wins in all three states with contests Tuesday night. And in his victory speech he took aim at President Obama. Here’s the video courtesy Fox News.

“I don’t stand here and claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.”

The Tuesday night sweep gives Santorum major momentum. But, as POLITICO notes, the actual effects of the three contests on the GOP nominating process are somewhat suspect.

“All three primaries and caucuses are largely symbolic... In Missouri’s case, there is no direct connection between the primary results and the fate of the state’s delegates, while Minnesota and Colorado Republicans will apportion their delegates in subsequent party meetings.”

But Santorum does stand to gain a boost in fundraising and positive press after the impressive showing. As Roll Call points out, the wins give...

“...Santorum’s campaign a big public push as an alternative to Romney, who has taken pains in recent days to present himself as an unstoppable frontrunner in the presidential primary.”

For Santorum, the wins come after weeks of campaigning in the trio of states while Newt Gingrich and Romney focused on Florida and then Nevada. As for Gingrich, CNN’s Ari Fleischer says Santorum’s latest surge complicates the former Speaker’s presidential ambitions.

“The main line you need to use to beat Mitt Romney is, ‘I’m the alternative. I can beat him.’ And if you can’t beat him anywhere except South Carolina, you start to lose that argument.”

Ron Paul’s campaign had hoped to gain a victory at least in Minnesota, but the GOP presidential hopeful finished a strong second there. Still it was the Colorado race between Santorum and Romney that came down to the wire and served as the biggest upset of the night. In 2008, Romney won that state with some 60 percent of the vote. The Hill writes:

“The expectations had been high for Romney to win handily in Colorado, where he has been aggressively campaigning in the three days since he won Nevada’s caucuses, and where his campaign has worked for months to establish a solid ground game.”

The Republican primary race now moves to two other states seen as friendly territory for Romney. Michigan — where his father served as governor, and Arizona — where a relatively large Mormon presence could help the candidate’s chances.