By Special Contributor Larry Kane

Philadelphia (CBS) – New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary is a couple days away. And all eyes are on the latest conservative favorite, former senator Rick Santorum.

Arlen Specter believes that the rise of Rick Santorum won’t last long and that Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee. But he points out that President Obama, with his approval ratings up, is a sounder, tougher more defiant tone.

“I think it’s going to be a slug fest. President Obama came out really tough in Ohio recently and he appointed someone to be the consumer advocate taking on the Republican Senate which refuses to confirm to almost anyone and he’s really out there fighting.”

Mike Castle has seen it all. 18 years as a Congressman from Delaware, eight years as the state’s Governor. He thinks the surge by Rick Santorum will not continue.

“I think that Mitt Romney is going to be the nominee. Then it’s a question of who else can do well in New Hampshire and then what happens in the more conservatives States. South Carolina is clearly one and Florida to some degree is one.”

Listen to extended interview: