PHOENIX -- Despite his many failed attempts to close the deal with wary Republican voters, Mitt Romney has proven adept in one capacity that's helped keep him at the front of the Republican presidential pack: A knack for knocking down rivals nearly as fast as they rise.
Whether it was through an onslaught of negative campaigning -- in halting the ascension of Newt Gingrich both before the Iowa caucuses and after the South Carolina primary -- or simply waiting out implosions by the likes of the now vanquished Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, Romney remains the lone constant in an otherwise topsy-turvy race.
And now, team Romney sees a lucky break in swatting away the latest would-be alternative to his candidacy, banking that former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has exposed himself as a Washington insider incapable of delivering the jolt so many Republicans believe the political system needs.
The Romney campaign has been trying for weeks to turn Santorum's long record as a congressman and senator against him, criticizing Santorum's votes to increase the nation's debt limit, secure pork-barrel projects for his Pennsylvania constituents and his support for party elders like former Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., over a more-conservative challenger.
That record, Romney claims, contradicts Santorum's portrayal of himself as true fiscal and social conservative in the race and as the outsider who would turn Washington on its head.
While voters continue to embrace Santorum in Arizona and Michigan heading into Tuesday's primaries, Romney renewed his efforts to undercut that support.
At an early-morning campaign stop in Phoenix Thursday, Romney attacked Santorum for claiming in the debate that he only supported the No Child Left Behind school reforms, which conservatives decry for expanding government intrusion into education, because he wanted to help President George W. Bush succeed. Santorum said he now regrets that vote but at the time felt he had to "take one for the team."
"I wonder which team he was taking it for. My team is the American people not the insiders in Washington," Romney told the Associated Builders and Contractors. "I've never seen a politician explain in so many ways why he voted against his principles."
Romney's attacks put Santorum on the defensive at a time when Santorum needs to be convincing voters that his recent success in a series of nominating contests was no fluke and that he has what it takes to go up against President Obama in the fall. But some analysts said Santorum botched his best chance in Wednesday's debate to make a compelling case to voters looking to support anyone but Romney.
"Look, Santorum needed to hit it out of the park," said one Republican strategist unaffiliated with the Republican campaigns. "Instead, he came off as the consummate insider -- the very type of politician that is a nonstarter with many Republicans today. I suspect [Santorum's] performance will convince more voters to hold their noses and reluctantly go with [Romney]."
The race will now largely move from Arizona to the industrial heartland of Michigan, where both Romney and Santorum are devoting the bulk of their time before Tuesday's primaries.
