The big opening is in South Carolina:
While Romney has been campaigning here, his poll numbers in South Carolina, and even in Florida, have been steadily rising. A recent Rasmussen survey of South Carolina showed Romney, who was back in the pack not too long ago, in the lead, slightly ahead of Santorum, and farther ahead of former South Carolina front-runner Newt Gingrich. … The fact is, for a Republican presidential candidate, the South is the big prize. It is the rock-solid base of the Republican Party.
(Former senator Rick Santorum speaks during a campaign stop at Stax's Original Restaurant January 8, 2012 in Greenville, South Carolina. Santorum called himself the only 'Reagan Conservative' during his speech to supporters. By Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images)
The Dish 