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Primary battle could cost Santorum the war

Far-right stances fuel primary surge but could alienate independents in fall

By Michael Kranish and Bobby Caina Calvan

 |  Globe Staff  

  February 26, 2012

Three years before Rick Santorum decided to seek the Republican presidential nomination, he laid out his vision for America. “This not a political war at all,” he said. “This is not a cultural war. This is a spiritual war.” But now, as Santorum is in the political war of his life heading into pivotal primaries on Tuesday in Michigan and Arizona, it is the image of him as a cultural and religious warrior that could help win the nomination - but hurt in a general election.

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