Candidates who won by process of elimination?

[Jacobtm]

Santorum, all through the pre-primary pageantry was either ignored or derided.

He didn't let it deter him, and after all the other candidates had destroyed themselves, he was the only one left.

He may yet win the nomination, not by beating everyone else, but by simply being there after everyone else destroyed themselves.

What other candidates have their been like this?

[tpfkaw]

John McCain, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater...

It's fairly common, actually (though only Carter is comparable to Santorum in how far from behind he came).  Of course, this is assuming Santorum actually wins the nomination, which is a BIG if.

[J. J.]

John McCain, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater...

It's fairly common, actually (though only Carter is comparable to Santorum in how far from behind he came).  Of course, this is assuming Santorum actually wins the nomination, which is a BIG if.

Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson.

[tpfkaw]

John McCain, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater...

It's fairly common, actually (though only Carter is comparable to Santorum in how far from behind he came).  Of course, this is assuming Santorum actually wins the nomination, which is a BIG if.

Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson.

Except for the last they were the initial frontrunners, though.