I was glued to the television set...

...last night (as I'm sure you can imagine) and what struck me most was the stark contrast between Rick Santorum's speech and Mitt Romney's a little later. Santorum's was clearly a victory speech; Romney's was not.

(By the way, my younger son once asked me, "If it's all in one piece, why do they call it a television set?")

As an Obama supporter, I'll admit I was a little taken back by Santorum's speech. Up until now, I've thought of the former senator from Pennsylvania -- when I've thought of him at all -- as a joke. (He wants to ban contraceptives? Really?)

Like most Democrats, I've been more worried about Mitt Romney. He seems like the most credible Republican candidate and one who could actually defeat the president in November. (Under truth serum, I'd admit that I could live with the former governor of Massachusetts in the White House; he's a non-ideological problem-solver who really should be a Democrat.)

Anyway, Santorum took the stage last night like someone who had just slayed a dragon (which he did). Never mind the final count (Romney ended up winning by eight votes), this guy won and he knew it. And what's more, everyone else knew it too -- including Romney. Santorum was calm and confident. "Game on," he began.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, looked shaken when he came out a few minutes later. After seven years of non-stop campaigning and untold millions of dollars spent, the establishment's candidate could manage only about as many votes as last time and a little less than 25 percent of the total. And this guy's the frontrunner?

Santorum spoke slowly, deliberately and from the heart. He thanked his wife, his God, and reminisced about his grandfather; I hung on every word. Romney's pacing, on the other hand, was all wrong; he hurried through a litany of (mostly silly) complaints about President Obama. (Never mind him, Mitt; why should Republicans vote for you?) The former governor seemed nervous and his mannerisms were herky-jerky. (Is it just me, or does this guy always look like he's about to cry?)

Watching Santorum, all I could think was: why don't Republicans like him more? He's a good-looking guy who, like Romney, looks the part. Not only that, but he's also conservative socially, economically, and on foreign policy. And, unlike Romney, he comes across as genuine. Santorum strikes me as the natural heir to (St.) Ronald Reagan. (Why doesn't anyone else see that?) Here is a guy who can appeal to Reagan Democrats in the northeast and Midwest as well as Catholics, evangelicals and foreign policy hawks. While Mitt can connect with the country club set, Santorum can reach the white working class.

Now, I don't know if Santorum can raise enough money or build an organization fast enough to be truly competitive going forward, but, after watching these two speak last night, I thought: forget Romney -- we can beat him. I'd be more worried about Santorum.