Rick Santorum Has No Intention of Fading Away

 

The sub-story tonight:  Rick Santorum’s mini-surge.  Most polls showed him finishing fourth, behind Ron Paul, but instead the good senator finished third, closer to Mitt Romney than Romney was to Gingrich. 

Where’s Santorum going now?

Florida.

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  1. Profile Photo Inactive
    @StuartCreque

    I fear Florida will be his last stand. If he runs an aggressive campaign and depletes his coffers, he’ll have to win to raise the funds necessary to keep going past Florida. If he runs a parsimonious campaign on the theory that he has to spend within his means, he’ll have to win to demonstrate that a campaign on the cheap can succeed.

    I don’t think he will win in Florida.

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    @katievs

    Of the remaining candidates, IMO, Santorum would make BY FAR the best president.

    Wouldn’t it be wild if Rubio were to endorse him?

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    @MichaelTee
    katievs: Of the remaining candidates, IMO, Santorum would make BY FAR the best president.

    Wouldn’t it be wild if Rubio were to endorse him? · 0 minutes ago

    Is this based upon his “social conservatism” or the fact he expanded the Federal Budget by trillions of dollars?

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    @GusMarvinson

    I like Santorum, but I’d like to see him drop out and turn this thing into a Gingrich vs. Romney dogfight.

    Oh, and Ron Paul, too. Not that I’m any fan of RP, I just know he’ll be ankle biting to the bitter end so I might as well include him.

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    @NobodysPerfect

    So the fact that a one-note social conservative beat Ron Paul by 3 percent in a heavily-evangelical state where most people can’t even spell “libertarian” is big news?

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    @MelFoil

    I wonder if President Jimmy the Pious is one of the things ruining it for Santorum. Not consciously, but in the back of the voter’s mind. Religious faithfulness is a big part of Santorum’s reputation, and America tried holiness once. It didn’t work out so well.

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    @NobodysPerfect

    I wonder if President Jimmy the Pious is one of the things ruining it for Santorum. Not consciously, but in the back of the voter’s mind. Religious faithfulness is a big part of Santorum’s reputation, and America tried holiness once. It didn’t work out so well.

    Not to mention George W. Bush’s shameless breast-beating about being born again. Compassionate conservatism worked out really well.

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    @LucyPevensie

    I was really won over by his speech tonight. I haven’t been a big Santorum fan, but tonight he was very appealing. I’ll be interested to see what happens as we move forward. (By the way, counter to the stereotypes, it’s my husband who is the big Santorum supporter in our household).

    Stuart Creque: I fear Florida will be his last stand. If he runs an aggressive campaign and depletes his coffers, he’ll have to win to raise the funds necessary to keep going past Florida. If he runs a parsimonious campaign on the theory that he has to spend within his means, he’ll have to win to demonstrate that a campaign on the cheap can succeed.

    I don’t think he will win in Florida.

    I am hoping that maybe this election year is going to end up being the one where there’s more to all of this than money. After all, Romney’s money spent in SC doesn’t seem to have accomplished much.

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    @StuartCreque
    Lucy Pevensie:

    Stuart Creque: I fear Florida will be his last stand. If he runs an aggressive campaign and depletes his coffers, he’ll have to win to raise the funds necessary to keep going past Florida. If he runs a parsimonious campaign on the theory that he has to spend within his means, he’ll have to win to demonstrate that a campaign on the cheap can succeed.

    I don’t think he will win in Florida.

    I am hoping that maybe this election year is going to end up being the one where there’s more to all of this than money. After all, Romney’s money spent in SC doesn’t seem to have accomplished much.

    But after Iowa, Santorum hasn’t built up momentum: tied for fifth in NH and a modest third in SC. His trajectory isn’t steeply upward. I don’t see him winning Florida, and without that second win, I don’t see him able to stay in.

    • #9
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    @katievs
    Michael Tee

    Is this based upon his “social conservatism” or the fact he expanded the Federal Budget by trillions of dollars? · 25 minutes ago

    It’s based on

    1) His carefully thought-through vision for governing, including especially the way he (totally unlike Romney) clearly sees and firmly grasps the essential link between strong family life and limited government.

    2) His record as a staunch conservative who is not afraid to stand up for his convictions even at the risk of his career

    3) His admirable moral character and personal story

    4) His particular ideas, e.g. for a strong defense and for revitalizing the manufacturing sector

    5) His ability to articulate conservatism

    6) His good-old fashioned work ethic. His willingness to keep soldiering on in this election, in the face of overwhelming odds and all the nay-sayers even on his own side.

    7) The fact that his negatives are mainly in matters of style (too abrasive, e.g.), not substance. They don’t compare REMOTELY with Romneycare or Newt’s various crimes against conservatism.

    • #10
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    @MollieHemingway

    Santorum’s speech was the best of the evening, as it turned out. And I don’t want anyone getting out. I might want more people getting in, but I certainly don’t want anyone getting out!

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    @katievs
    Stuart Creque

    But after Iowa, Santorum hasn’t built up momentum: tied for fifth in NH and a modest third in SC. His trajectory isn’t steeply upward. I don’t see him winning Florida, and without that second win, I don’t see him able to stay in. · 1 minute ago

    Did anyone see him being where he is at this point?

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    @NoesisNoeseos

    Bye, bye, Rick. The sweater was cuddly and cute. Softies loved it.

    But it won’t protect Israel against Mad ‘Jad.

    It won’t reduce the deficit.

    It won’t smother the Alinsky-ites and their designs to establish an unfettered Nanny State.

    It won’t ween us off of foreign oil.

    It won’t return the governance of abortion to the states, where the Constitution did once deposit it.

    Bye, bye, Rick. It’s just too tough a fight for simple pieties.

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    @JamesGawron

    Peter,

    As I told Rob, my two Perry bumper stickers are off. I have room for two fresh stickers. I haven’t made up my mind yet. In ten days they all come to me. I’ll be on “The Island” working as usual. I’ll go to minyan at about 5:30pm and I’ll hit the polls at about 6:30pm. My polling place is called Bethesda by the Sea. It’s a magnificent Episcopal Church here on “The Island”. They have a fantastic organ and last saturday a week ago great bag pipe music.

    Hmmmmm……who shall I vote for?

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    @MichaelTee
    Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Santorum’s speech was the best of the evening, as it turned out. And I don’t want anyone getting out. I might want more people getting in, but I certainly don’t want anyone getting out! · 60 minutes ago

    Then you want Romney to win.

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    @StuartCreque
    katievs

    Stuart Creque

    But after Iowa, Santorum hasn’t built up momentum: tied for fifth in NH and a modest third in SC. His trajectory isn’t steeply upward. I don’t see him winning Florida, and without that second win, I don’t see him able to stay in. · 1 minute ago

    Did anyone see him being where he is at this point? · 1 hour ago

    The great lesson in this campaign so far is that anything can happen in 10 days. But barring some huge development in Santorum’s favor, his trajectory isn’t tracking upward fast enough to let him win Florida outright.

    What could make it happen? Romney could experience a really bad moment that causes him to fall sharply out of favor; Newt could make a very bad misstep; and Santorum could have a breakout performance in the debates in Florida. I think all three are necessary conditions, and even together they may not be sufficient.

    Now, Romney isn’t used to the underdog role he’s stepping into in Florida, so he may falter. Newt may not handle being on top of the heap well. Rick has to come up with a debate stunner.

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    @StuartCreque
    Michael Tee

    Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Santorum’s speech was the best of the evening, as it turned out. And I don’t want anyone getting out. I might want more people getting in, but I certainly don’t want anyone getting out! · 60 minutes ago

    Then you want Romney to win. · 14 minutes ago

    That doesn’t follow. If Santorum stays in and doesn’t do well in Florida, he may actually reinforce Newt’s status as the anti-Romney conservative alternative.

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    @CrowsNest

    I hope Santorum stays in the race also–I generally think him honorable, and I think we could benefit from hearing more from him (even in the several cases in which we disagree).

    On various issues, he provides ideas that are either: 1) very untimely–in which case, all the better they be aired, they are part of the fabric of American conservatism; or 2) present areas where compromise between Republicans and Democrats is possible and which the next administration may want to consider harnessing–it will be necessary to compromise somewhere in order to push forward the big agenda items the next President has on his desk (I’m thinking here mostly of his manufacturing subsidies [that could be made to harmonize with some pro-labor positions] and pro-family tax views).

    But, I don’t think he’ll be the nominee.

    In which case, what should the good Senator, and his snazzy vest, do next? Is there a place for him in the next cabinet? Or should he try to retake his senate seat in PA?

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    @JamesOfEngland
    Palaeologus

    Frozen Chosen: I said before SC that Santorum needed a top 3 finish to stay alive and he accomplished that. He’s got a ticket to Florida but I’m not sure he survives that primary.

    The February races are all ones Romney won in 2008 so it’s a safe bet he will do so again this year. Not sure Santorum has the funds to make it to Super Tuesday in March which would be his next chance for a win. · 0 minutes ago

    I like Romney’s chances in February, but MI isn’t the given plenty of folks presume.

    McCain won it on the strength of the union left in 2000, and the same voters turned out against him in 2008. Romney has real support in Michigan, but it is entirely unclear which candidate (though Paul is most likely) will receive the unions’ votes. ·

    I have faith in Michigan and Minnesota. I do worry about Colorado and Maine. Both ought to be Mitt wins, but if Santorum focuses heavily on one or the other, while Mitt campaigns to dominate Nevada against Paul and Newt, Santorum could win in either.

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    @MothershipGreg
    Nobody’s Perfect: where most people can’t even spell “libertarian”

    I’m sure you’re joking, but it’s not very funny. I’m sure South Carolinians can spell “Lew Rockwell” just fine.

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    @FrozenChosen

    I said before SC that Santorum needed a top 3 finish to stay alive and he accomplished that. He’s got a ticket to Florida but I’m not sure he survives that primary.

    The February races are all ones Romney won in 2008 so it’s a safe bet he will do so again this year. Not sure Santorum has the funds to make it to Super Tuesday in March which would be his next chance for a win.

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    @Palaeologus
    Frozen Chosen: I said before SC that Santorum needed a top 3 finish to stay alive and he accomplished that. He’s got a ticket to Florida but I’m not sure he survives that primary.

    The February races are all ones Romney won in 2008 so it’s a safe bet he will do so again this year. Not sure Santorum has the funds to make it to Super Tuesday in March which would be his next chance for a win. · 0 minutes ago

    I like Romney’s chances in February, but MI isn’t the given plenty of folks presume.

    McCain won it on the strength of the union left in 2000, and the same voters turned out against him in 2008. Romney has real support in Michigan, but it is entirely unclear which candidate (though Paul is most likely) will receive the unions’ votes.

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    @SeanClough
    If Sanotrum had lost to Ron Paul in the SC Primary then his argument for staying in would have been lost. He needs to make the case during the next debates before the Florida Primary that he is the most consistent conservative that gives him the ability to criticize Obama on all fronts making him the most competitive candidate in the general election. Unlike Gingrich and Romney who are not consistent on Health Care. Gingrich has a history of sitting on couches with liberal counterparts, thinks the Ryan budget plan is social engineering, and has worked for Freddie Mac. Mitt Romney will have a challenge connecting with voters, be depicted by Obama as the 1% of the 1%. Santorum has that ability to connect with middle class voters, can be a strong debater, and can create a great contrast between himself and Obama.

    Santorum does not need to win Florida to remain viable. What he does need to do in Florida is either get second or a very close third to Newt Gingrich. He will then have the credibility to continue into the caucus states with a more proportional distribution of delegates.

    • #23
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    @BillDoublewide

    Blaming Santorum for “expanding the Federal Budget by trillions of dollars” makes as much sense as blaming DeMint or Kyl or even Reagan for the same. Cuddly? Have you heard one thing he’s said about national security in general or Iran in particular?

    I would trust Santorum to do the right thing as much or more than any candidate in the race or those other conservatives wish were in the race.

    My concern with him is messaging: he needs to talk more about growing the economy, taking a chainsaw to government, and dealing with Iran. A lot more. We all already know where he stands on the social issues (the right place).

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    @JamesOfEngland
    Sean Clough: If Sanotrum had lost to Ron Paul in the SC Primary then his argument for staying in would have been lost…… Santorum has that ability to connect with middle class voters, can be a strong debater, and can create a great contrast between himself and Obama.

    Santorum does not need to win Florida to remain viable. What he does need to do in Florida is either get second or a very close third to Newt Gingrich. He will then have the credibility to continue into the caucus states with a more proportional distribution of delegates. · 5 hours ago

    Who is going to force Santorum out? What’s he got to lose? Like Ron Paul, he can easily stay in the race to the convention. If Newt never implodes, that’s fine. If Newt does implode, he’ll be standing by.

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    @StuartCreque
    James Of England

    Sean Clough: If Sanotrum had lost to Ron Paul in the SC Primary then his argument for staying in would have been lost…… Santorum has that ability to connect with middle class voters, can be a strong debater, and can create a great contrast between himself and Obama.

    Santorum does not need to win Florida to remain viable. What he does need to do in Florida is either get second or a very close third to Newt Gingrich. He will then have the credibility to continue into the caucus states with a more proportional distribution of delegates. · 5 hours ago

    Who is going to force Santorum out? What’s he got to lose? Like Ron Paul, he can easily stay in the race to the convention. If Newt never implodes, that’s fine. If Newt does implode, he’ll be standing by. · 55 minutes ago

    Who’s going to pay for Santorum to stay in? How much personal debt can he afford to incur to keep in the race to the convention?

    If Santorum doesn’t win Florida, he’ll have a very hard time making the case to donors.

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    @SeanClough
    Like I said, I don’t think Santorum needs to win in Florida. He probably needs get second place. That means probably beating Newt Gingrich. I think he is within striking distance. It will require that Santorum make the argument that he is the consistent conservative without a past that will impede him when debate Obama. Like the debate over the individual mandate. Both Gingrich and Romney lose credibility on this argument due to their past policy positions. If he can make a similar argument to people with money then I think he can get donors. Voters and donors want to beat Obama they worry that Gingrich’s and Romney’s past will really hurt them in this regard. That I think is the basic Santorum argument for why he should still be in the race and the one who deserves the nomination.
    • #27
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