The big story in Blogistan right now is that Rick Santorum is backing away from his advocacy of the "nuclear option" and is urging his fellow GOP senators to consider some stall tactics -- all because of the results of an internal Republican poll:

Details of the polling numbers remain under wraps, but Santorum and other Senate sources concede that, while a majority of Americans oppose the filibuster, the figures show that most also accept the Democratic message that Republicans are trying to destroy the tradition of debate in the Senate.

...Confirming public disquiet over the "nuclear" or "constitutional" option, Santorum said, "Our polling shows that."

Santorum knows a lot about polling and "disquiet" -- he's up for reelection next year, and a Quinnipiac poll shows him trailing Democrat Bob Casey Jr. by 14 points. He's one of the most visible supporters of both the Bush Social Security scheme and the Terri Schiavo intervention, both of which are hugely unpopular.

Oh, and Pennsylvania papers have been noting some interesting things about him. His trip to Florida, where he raised funds and did Schiavo photo ops? He got around the state on Wal-Mart's corporate jet -- not long after receiving some serious money from Wal-Mart. And what do you know -- he recently proposed a Wal-Mart-friendly amendment to the minimum wage law, he supports tort reform provisions that would transfer lawsuits like the huge class action suit Wal-Mart is now facing to federal courts, and he's included, in a bill on charities he sponsors, a provision on foundation gifts from corporations that would greatly benefit Sam Walton's heirs. Coincidence? I think not.

Also in the Pa. papers is news that the Outback Steakhouse chain is another backer of Santorum's -- and a Santorum amendment to the minimum wage bill would prevent states from creating higher minimum wages for restaurant workers than the nationally mandated restaurant minimum. (What would Jesus do? Yeah, I think he'd mandate the lowest possible minimum wage for waitstaff, don't you?)

A few months ago, this guy was mentally measuring the drapes in the White House. Now he could be unemployed in less than two years. Nice.

(Last link via Democratic Underground.)