@engineer,
I think Minnesota is more important, there.
I do think it's more in the category of "message to Romney" than "we think Santorum is awesome," but that's a good thing.
That's been a pattern so far -- people dislike Romney enough that when he starts looking too inevitable they pivot to someone else (the choice of "someones" has narrowed considerably). But then when he looks like he's really in danger -- and when it looks like one of those "someones" might actually win -- they go back to Romney.
If current trends hold up, that would mean an extended race (not a slam-dunk for Romney) but Romney as the nominee at the end.