Santorum Leads Obama In Rasmussen Poll

I find this poll shocking. Most of the polling we have seen lately has focused on state polling and in the back of our minds we know that Gingrich or Romney is close to Obama in national polls. This Rasmussen poll was the first surprise I've seen in some weeks. In his latest poll former Senator Rick Santorum gets 45 to President Obama's 44 percent. This is the first time Santorum has beaten Obama in Rasmussen's poll but Romney has done so twice while Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich each have once. Obviously Santorum is still a very long shot to win the nomination but as Romney and Gingrich have battled one another Santorum has run a principled albeit dull campaign. Santorum has avoided the ad hominem attacks that have become the trademark of the two top contenders and it seems to be paying off. I would question if Santorum could hold the lead if he should ever get it but right now he's beat my expectations.