Rick Santorum is connecting with evangelical Republicans, who have helped send him to strong showings in state after state. Yet in one of the more puzzling developments among many in the GOP contest, he's nowhere near as successful with his fellow Roman Catholics.
Across all states where Republican primary voters were asked their religion in exit polls, Mitt Romney, a Mormon, trounced Santorum among Catholics, with an average margin of victory above 20 percentage points. Even in Southern states, where Romney has struggled, Catholics broke his way.
Catholics haven't voted as a bloc in decades, leading analysts to declare "the Catholic vote" as such doesn't exist. Still, the results are surprising given that the former Pennsylvania senator puts Catholicism at the center of his public service and personal life.
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