SANTORUM looks for a late surge:

Donning his trademark sweater vest to meet an after-church lunch crowd here, Santorum implored the state's evangelical voters to pick a candidate who will defend their values rather than settle for a nominee, like front-runner Mitt Romney, just because he was judged more electable.

"I hear some say we need to put these social issues aside," said Santorum, insisting Republicans need a nominee who could provide a "true contrast" with President Obama. "They don't know America. America is a moral enterprise not an economic enterprise."

Here's my problem with Santorum: we're not electing a preacher for President; we did that 3 years ago.

"I'm going with Romney," said Jill Williams, a stay-at-home mom from Myrtle Beach. "I could care less about who a bunch of strangers endorse out in Texas [Christian leadership conference in Houston]. I care about beating Obama. If that happens, I can deal with all the other things that might not be perfect about Romney."

I still have some hope for Gingrich or Perry, but I will vote for Romney if it comes to a choice between him and Santorum.