He is the only guy left who can make a run at this. No candidate is perfect, but Santorum is the best of the bunch by a long shot this time around. Every other candidate has had their turn in the spotlight, all but one. But maybe that can still change.

Maggie Gallagher at NRO reports

Rick Santorum has snagged two big “gets” in the Iowa caucuses, the endorsements of Bob Vander Plaats and Focus on the Family state policy council head Chuck Hurley.

Hurley appears to be asking Perry and Bachmann to step down to unite behind Santorum. Chutzpah?

and Lowry adds

Santorum has had a major chicken-and-egg problem. I get the impression social conservatives in Iowa have been leery of supporting him because he’s been so low in the polls, meaning he stays low in the polls. He’s always needed something to give him an initial boost of plausibility. Maybe this is it, but who knows? I tend to believe one of the three, Perry, Bachmann, or Santorum, is going to get a big boost at the end. Here, by the way, is Walter Shapiro on why Santorum is more impressive on the stump than Perry.

It is true that plausibility is a key concern, but if Santorum can surprise in Iowa and one of the other more conservative also-rans calls it quits, Santorum could still make a run at this as the alternative.

Santorum is smart, experienced, and as solidly pro-life as you are likely to find. He is a good and decent man and he is qualified. Now more than ever, conservatives need to get behind Rick Santorum, before its too late.