Rick Santorum is learning what it feels like to be Newt Gingrich.

Following a hefty beat-down of Gingrich in advertising placed by Mitt Romney surrogates, the former Massachusetts governor is coming off a decisive victory in the Nevada caucuses to set his sights on the next caucus states of Colorado and Minnesota.

And with Santorum showing some resiliency in Minnesota -- polling better than Romney in the most recent survey -- the Romney campaign is now targeting the former Pennsylvania senator.

On a conference call Monday morning, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a national co-chairman for the Romney campaign, said of Santorum: "If you look at his record, it’s not a perfect conservative record by a long shot."

"As a U.S. senator, he was a leading earmarker and pork-barrel spender," Pawlenty said of Santorum in a follow-up press release aimed at conservative Minnesota voters.

Displeased with the additional focus from the Romney camp, Santorum said the attack won't impact him the way it did the former House speaker.

"This is typical Romney," Santorum said at a media event in Minnesota. "He goes out and throws the kitchen sink and runs negative ads and sends out his surrogates to rip and tear even though he is as vulnerable on this issue as anybody.

"I don't think it's going to work this time," he said. (read more)

It's like a kid in a candy store.

On Sunday, sweater-vest-loving GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum will visit the Lake Bemidji, Minn., manufacturing plant that makes his famous sweater vests for sale on his campaign website.

Bemidji Woolen Mills, founded in 1920, has been family owned since it was created in an effort to produce "the highest quality, authentic outdoor woolen apparel for the early logging era in Minnesota and surrounding states", according to the website.

The sweater vest has become a signature fashion item for the former Pennsylvania senator who has donnned one frequently on the campaign trail. Earlier this month the campaign began offering them to supporters who donated $100 or more to help fuel the Iowa caucuses winner's presidential bid.

Bill Batchelder, fourth-generation owner of Bemidji Woolen Mills, told The Bemidji Pioneer last month that the plant was rushing to fill the influx of orders.

"We're not exactly sure what our daily capacity is, but all hands are on deck. Our employees are extremely excited to be a part of this," Batchelder said.

Faced with a nearly two week old government shutdown, many Minnesotans might plan to crack open a cold one and wait for the storm to pass. Easier said than done. The Star Tribune  of Minneapolis reports that restaurants, bars and stores are unable to renew their alcohol purchasing cards due to the statewide government shutdown. The cost for the card is only $20, however several establishments were caught with cards that expired on June 30th and if the shutdown continues more will expire at the end of July. In other words, a few of those friendly Minnesotans might become a lot less friendly.

The Star Tribune also reports that The Ugly Mug, a popular bar near the Minnesota Twins' Target Field, may not have enough beer to last them through the baseball season. Frank Ball, the executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association told the Tribune, "It's going to cripple our industry." KSTP TV in Minneapolis reports that Miller-Coors will have to remove their brands from Minnesota shelves since they failed to pay their 30 dollar brand license fee prior to the state shutdown. (read more)

"Minnesota Nice" is a very real, unwritten rule.

Folks in the North Star State actually do expect each other -- and their visitors -- to be agreeable, even when they disagree.

This will surely be put to the test come June 17 at the Hilton in Minneapolis.

The hotel will have guests from polar opposite ends of the political spectrum. Activists from Netroots Nation and Right Online will both be gathering and staying there.

"It's flattering," says Mary Rickles, Communications and Media Director for Netroots Nation.

Rickles points out every year the progressive internet activist group selects a city to hold its annual gathering, and shortly thereafter Right Online settles on the very same city.

In 2008, it was Austin. Then, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and this year, Minneapolis. And it does almost guarantee news media coverage when both groups are in one town at the same time.

This year for the first time, it's same city and the same hotel.

"We did inform the hotel of the dynamic, says Erik Telford of Americans for Prosperity, which is the parent group for Right Online.

Telford says the conservative group -- as it does every year -- was looking for a non-union hotel, but given the number of people expected to attend Right Online (between 1,100 and 1,500) and because of the demands for rooms and meeting space, Hilton Minneapolis was the deemed best venue.

Netroots Nation expects 2,000 to 2,500 people to attend and is spread out of several hotels including the Hilton. (read more)

The latest attack ad in the fight to represent Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, has created a small firestorm between Rep. Michele Bachmann and her opponent, Democratic State Senator Tarryl Clark.

Clark's web video released this morning on her campaign's website accuses Rep. Bachmann of "standing with Wall Street, big insurance companies and BP," during the BP Gulf oil spill ealier this year. At the end of the 30 second ad, the announcer says, "Michele Bachmann not doing (bleep) @#!% for the people of the 6th District. But doing more than her fair share for the special interests in Washington." The profanity is bleeped out, not spoken, but definitely implied.

Watch the ad here.  (read more)