The Washington Post’s Dan Balz, in writing that Mitt Romney’s rivals lack broad support to clinch the GOP nomination, has tallied up the race so far.

Governor Romney has won six of the 11 contests to date. He finished second in four others and third once, in Minnesota’s caucuses. Rick Santorum, on the other hand, has won four contests, finished second in two others, and run third four times and fourth once. (Santorum’s sweep of Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri on the same day “provided a huge psychological boost,” Balz points out, “but no delegates.”) Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary, finished second in the two contests that followed his South Carolina victory (Florida and Nevada) but finished third or fourth in all the contests since. Ron Paul has a pair of seconds in two contests in the Northeast, but the rest of his finishes are thirds or fourths.

All of which leads me to agree with Balz’s conclusion: “Until one of Romney’s rivals begins to show with real consistency an ability to expand his appeal, the former Massachusetts governor, however weakened he may appear at times, will remain the heavy favorite to emerge with the nomination.”