Talking Points: Minnesota Matters This Primary
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota suddenly matters in the Republican Presidential race.
With the news of Newt Gingrich's huge win in South Carolina the Republican Presidential race has been upended. With no clear frontrunner, every state is suddenly in play.
Minnesota's caucuses are Feb. 7. New Gingrich and Ron Paul are already running ads locally. Mitt Romney's supporters had hoped it would have been all but over now. Their game plan was wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina that would make him the prohibitive front runner.
But in a very bad week for Romney, he had his Iowa win taken away and given to Rick Santorum and his double-digit lead in South Carolina vanished.
Suddenly, every state contest -- including Minnesota's Feb. 7 caucuses -- matters. Hamline Professor David Schultz appeared on WCCO Sunday Morning.
"There is no question for the Republicans that Minnesota is going to be very, very important," Schultz said. "I suspect we might even see some visits by some of the Republicans because it so close, it is tight, they are all jockeying for position so Minnesota means something at least in the primary for the Republicans."
Romney could well have the edge in Minnesota. After dropping out of the Presidential race, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Romney and has been campaigning hard for him throughout the country.
You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning every Sunday. And adjust your clocks, next Sunday, WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy will be on at 10:30 a.m.
