Mitt Romney Takes Lead in PPP Poll in Pennsylvania … Santorum Will Certainly Exit Race if He Loses the Keystone State

GOP Presidential primary hopeful Rick Santorum has been defiant in remaining in the primary race even after last Tuesday’s clean sweep by Mitt Romney and the fact that Santorum trails badly in the delegates count. Pennsylvania was supposed to be Santorum’s fire wall and the spring board back into relevance. Maybe not.

However, what happens if Santorum loses his home state of Pennsylvania? According to a recent PPP poll, Romney now leads in PA.Romney now leads Santorm 42% to 37% which marks a 17% gain by Romney in just one month and a 6% loss by Santorum. What is good for one goose, should be also the same for the other. There was much talk heading into the Michigan primaries, that if Romney lost the state that he should step down. Would not the same be true for Santorum?

Mitt Romney’s taken the lead in PPP’s newest poll of Rick Santorum’s home state of Pennsylvania. Romney has 42% to 37% for Santorum with Ron Paul at 9% and Newt Gingrich at 6%. The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround from when PPP polled the state a month ago. Romney’s gained 17 points, going from 25% to 42%. Meanwhile Santorum’s dropped 6 points from 43% to 37%, for an overall swing of 23 points in the last four weeks.

Pennsylvania Republicans are expressing major doubts about Santorum’s viability both in the primary and the general election. Only 36% of GOP voters think Santorum has a realistic chance at the nomination to 54% who believe he does not. And when it comes to matching up against Barack Obama in the fall only 24% of Republicans think Santorum would provide their best chance for a victory while 49% think that designation belongs to Romney.

With all due respect to Rick Santorum and his aspirations, if you can’t win your home state … goodbye to you. Or will Santorum drop out before such an embarrassing loss in Pennsylvania?