Let's be honest- most Americans are probably queasy on some level about granting full fledged statehood to Puerto Rico, if not partly because English is not the primary language there. 

What was disappointing wasn't Santorum's 10% vote tally. It was his backtracking after his blunt comments on Puerto Rico's language. 

Santorum made a statement that hurt him in Puerto Rico, but that the rest of America would probably agree with. 

That's why it was disappointing that he back-peddled faster than a lamb stumbling into a lion's den, claiming that his words were taken out of context, and (insert political apology jargon here). 

Santorum has become a legitimate nominee because of his forthrightness, his refusal to apologize for his views, and his standing strong in the face of criticism. He consistently points to his 18 point loss in Pennsylvania as proof of not backing down from his sometimes unpopular views. He had a chance in Puerto Rico to be unpopular but true to his belief- the same characteristic that the other 50 states have finally noticed, respected, and admired.

And if character isn't enough of a reason, even from a political perspective Santorum should have just stayed mum and taken the heat after his PR/English comments, namely because the damage had already been done, and a half-apology would not help him recover at all in the voting.