Santorum returns to the back of the pack in New Hampshire

What a difference a week and 1,300 miles make: Rick Santorum, the Sleeveless Wonder who nearly took the Iowa caucuses out from under Mitt Romney, Tuesday came crashing back to Earth, as he was projected to finish fourth or fifth in New Hampshire.

With about two-thirds of the vote counted, Santorum was neck-and-neck with Newt Gingrich at 10%, far behind Romney, and trailing Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.

Santorum had hoped that his near-win in Iowa would give him a bounce in the Granite State and that his northeastern background (he’s the former senator from Pennsylvania) would pay dividends with voters there.

But a Iowa-style surge never materialized—and Santorum may have harmed himself in the state with his fierce and vocal opposition to gay marriage. One campaign event in particular—with young Republicans—ended in boos and jeers.

He’s hoping for a better result in South Carolina, where his focus on faith and family likely will better resonate with evangelicals and other social conservatives.

At a speech at a Manchester, N.H. restaurant, wearing a suit instead of his favored sweater vest, Santorum was gracious in defeat, congratulating Romney. But he disputed the idea that the nomination fight could be resolved after two contests when one was essentially in Romney’s back yard. “We can win this race,” Santorum said.

As he has before, he argued that his rust-belt appeal could make a difference in Midwestern swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“We have a message that can appeal not just in South Carolina but across this nation and in particular the states that are necessary to win this election,” he said.