Watching Rick Santorum’s reception at the Conservative Political Action Conference today, it’s hard to believe he was polling in the single digits just a few months ago. He’s clearly the base favorite at the moment; hundreds waited in line to see him speak this morning. I’ve seen few CPAC attendees wearing pro-Newt stickers, and none wearing pro-Romney ones. But pro-Santorum buttons and stickers are everywhere.
The difference between Santorum and the previous flavor-of-the-week candidates is that Santorum has the substance to make it to the nomination: he’s serious and knowledgeable (check out his articles on Iran, which Foreign Policy summarized here), he’s consistent, and he’s disciplined. Sure, he’s made his fair share of controversial comments, especially on gay marriage. But when he says something controversial, it’s always something he strongly believes in. It’s never said for the sake of bomb-throwing or pandering or out of ignorance.
Santorum’s CPAC speech should chill Romney to the core in a way that Newt Gingrich’s candidacy never could. Unlike Newt, Santorum is a real threat. Whereas Romney can’t relate to the base, Santorum is the base — as he told CPAC, “we’ve worked together in the vineyards.” And he has the stained hands to prove it.
Framing issues in terms of morals, values and “vision,” Santorum presented a clear contrast with Romney today. He vowed to provide opportunities to the “very poor” (an unmistakable swipe at Romney’s recent gaffe about not caring for the poor), blasted Obamacare, and declared that the election is about “really big things, more than just the economy.” In other words, he broke the unofficial code of silence over social issues that has largely marked the Republican primary so far.
Romney will have a hard time responding to these challenges. He’s not a movement conservative, and he’s not exceptionally charismatic. He also has a difficult time explaining and defending conservative values. While he’s almost certainly more electable than Santorum in a general election — the social issues would be a real problem for Santorum with independent voters — Romney will find it difficult to compete with the former Pennsylvania senator among conservative voters. And unlike Gingrich, Santorum is far less likely to shoot himself in the foot. After watching Santorum at CPAC, you can bet the Romney campaign is already starting to get nostalgic for Newt.
You hit it on the head: "the social issues would be a real problem for Santorum with independent voters". That MUST not be dismissed lightly. Or at all. The eye HAS to be on the general election, or all this primary business is one heck of a waste of time and money. I, for one (or two with my wife), very much want Obama out. But with the GOP lining up with religious fanatics who want to meddle with sex and the bedroom in politics and hate mixing economics with government, a very strange distorted attitude towards big government, the general election may be over before we start.
"But with the GOP lining up with religious fanatics who want to meddle with sex and the bedroom in politics and hate mixing economics with government, a very strange distorted attitude towards big government …" n nIs Rick Santorum a "religious fanatic"? If so, how? What, exactly, is a "religious fanatic"? Does he want "to meddle with sex and the bedroom"? If so, how? Do you think Santorum gives a damn about what you and your wife do in your bedroom? Does Santorum "hate mixing economics with government…"? If so, how? BTW, what does" hate mixing economics with government…" mean? n nIs Mitt Romney any more qualified than Rick Santorum to be our president? If so, how? n nGiven a choice between Rick Santorum and Barak Obama, who would you pick?
I've been studying Santorum's voting record the last couple of weeks – Eric over at Red State put out a small list of some of his votes – did not so much as extend to the EPA issues – January 6th, 2012. nIt is a disgusting array for someone that so many want to label a "Conservative" OR a Christian. One day, Santorum is going to be shocked how far he is from the beliefs of Jesus the Messiah. n- He voted to impose a uniform Federal mandate on states to force them to allow convicted rapits, arsonists, drug kingpins, and all other ex-convicts to vote in Federal elections. n- He voted against National Right to Work Act n- He voted for the Specter “backup plan” to allow campaign finance reform to survive if portions of the bill were found unconstitutional. n- He voted to mandate discounted broadcast times for politicians. n- He voted for Federal funding for anti-gun education programs in schools. n- He voted for mandatory Federal child care funding n nThis isn't a tip on the iceburg of all he voted for – straight off the MARXIST Agenda. nBald-faced. nI won't give him my authorization.
.Rose — if Santorum isn't as far right as some say, that would be a GOOD thing because all of this would be reasons for the moderate leftists to vote for him rather than NoBama….
While Santorum is not perfect, (who is?), in my humble opinion he is better than Romney. Could Santorum beat Obama in November? I do not know. We have so many Federal-govt. tit-sucking people in this country now I do not know if a conservative can win the Presidency anymore.
"A coward faces death many times while the brave man tastes the sting but once." n nI would rather go with Santorum and risk loosing than sacrifice what I believe in and try to get a slightly less offensive version of Obama. You can not raise class warfare against Santorum, you can not raise some of the other things that Romney is going to be blindsided by. n nI could actually see Romney loosing where Santorum wouldn't — Romney is not going to get the angry white male vote — Santroum will — and a lot of them are Blue Dog Democrats. n nAnd just because Romney is giving the good talk on foreign policy now, don't believe he will actually hold to it when the chips are down. I suspect he would abandon Israel just as quickly as he abandoned his support for Romneycare….