Having run third or fourth in several primaries, some wonder why Rick Santorum is sticking it out. Now that Newt’s star is fading, again. Santorum may become, as I have thought all along, the only realistic conservative alternative to Romney. It seems that others may be starting to agree…
Minnesota and Colorado hold their caucuses on Tuesday, and Missouri holds a non-binding primary that day. Polls suggest that Santorum could perform strongly, especially in Missouri and Minnesota.
In Minnesota, Santorum actually edges Romney 29 percent to 27 percent. In Colorado, he holds a distant second place 14 points behind Romney, but leads Gingrich by 8 points, suggesting that he may be taking the place of the former speaker of the House as the Romney alternative. In Missouri, Gingrich is not on the ballot — having not filed the necessary paperwork — leaving an opening for Santorum
Not many delegates have been awarded yet and there are still many primaries to go. Rick has done himself a great service over these months with his substantive debate performances and his ability to stay above the mudslinging. If Rick can establishe plausibility, he could experience a substantial uptick in some big contests. I don’t know if it is enough to overcome Mitt, but a boy has to hope.
So if the polling data is to be believed, Rick is getting a well deserved second look. Rick-mentum anyone?
February 7, 2012 at 2:28 pm
we are praying like mad here!!!
February 7, 2012 at 3:13 pm
The real challenge for Rick is in being able to compete in several places at once. His organization is small enough in some places to not even have qualified to be on the ballot. As much as I'd prefer him to be the nominee, we also have to acknowledge that a guy who's going to beat Obama at least needs to show enough life to get a few hundred signatures in obscure congressional districts.
It seems that Newt in this cycle has played the same role as Huckabee in 2008: a deeply flawed candidate who nevertheless sticks around long enough to dilute the conservative vote. If Newt had dropped out after New Hampshire things might have been different for Rick.
February 7, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Rick Santorum would actually appeal to many blue collar democrats. His economic policies are more Tip O'Neil than Milton Friedman… I think he actually has the potential for broader appeal than either Obama or Romney. I know my Dem for Life friends are rooting for him. And while he's not my IDEAL candidate, I could live with him, which is more than I can say for Romney or Gingrich, and none of my preferred guys are willing to run. (Still waiting on Bobby Jindal here….)
February 7, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Can Santorum Rickroll the GOP? All we can do is pray! Never gonna give you up…
February 7, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Praying like mad, also.
February 7, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Praying and DONATING! RickSantorum.com. Let's put some money where our prayers are!
February 7, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Heard Rick last Sunday. Going to Colorado caucus tonight and will be pulling for him.
February 7, 2012 at 7:22 pm
GO RICK, GO!
GO RICK, GO!
Donate to his campaign AND to his Superpac if you can! http://rwbfund.com/
Most important:
Pray the Rosary
Fast
Have you fasted yet?!
God save America
February 7, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Just had the privilege to cast my vote for Santorum here in Missouri. Am hearing turnout is even lower than expected in our nearest sizable city, but here in my county they told us turnout is a lot higher than they expected. We're in probably the most conservative part of the state, down in the Ozarks. Not a lot of trust in either Gingrich or Romney around here. My husband and I will be at the caucus, too.
MO voters need to get out there and vote. It is not true the primary doesn't matter. It will be the biggest factor in who is favored in the caucus.
And, yeah, a few rosaries couldn't hurt….
February 7, 2012 at 7:59 pm
I think, for all those places that he can't afford to run, he should make a facebook video go viral, encouraging people to give him their write-in vote.
February 7, 2012 at 8:07 pm
As an Obama supporting Progressive, Run Rick Run! Per "real clear politics", Romney, and Paul have a better chance of beating Obama than Rick. Newt is the only of the 4 with less chance. Of course, the election is an economic downturn or war away from being decided.
Rick is doing incredibly well in several states though: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/.
Intersting times.
February 7, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Santorum is definitely going to kill more Muzzies! Go, Rick, Go!!
February 8, 2012 at 3:24 am
Rick is doing amazing tonight, but I've got to ask, What is a Muzzie (not counting the bowhunting broadhead)? People really don't want to vote for Romney.
February 8, 2012 at 4:41 am
Most recent anonymous, the two before you are trolls. The one right before you was grunting and pointing in the direction of the concept "Santorum's a warmonger"—"Muzzie" is an impolite shortening of "Muslim". 9/10 of the people who use it are actually PC trolls posing as "Islamophobes", who (when not deliberately misrepresenting themselves) would never dream of criticizing Muslims' penchant for genital mutilation or executing the victims of rape, much less calling them anything less polite than "Muslim".
The one before that lives in a fantasy world where Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are more electable than Gingrich or Santorum—which they like, as it is to the advantage of their Dear Leader. Fortunately, their fantasy world is a fantasy world; Real Clear Politics is about as valid a source as the Flat Earth Society.
February 8, 2012 at 7:34 pm
According to David Brooks in his article in the New York Times, "Workers of the World Unite" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/opinion/workers-of-the-world-unite.html
Rick is exactly what Reagan Democrats and working class Republicans are looking for and not finding in the rich 'front-runners' of either party.
He is man of the people who understands the real suffering this economy is inflicting on those of us who wonder if we can afford to buy gas if it goes up to $5/gallon. Do you think Romney ever pumped his own gas?
Rick's Made in America plan to revive the manufacturing sector is based on his experience in rust belt Pittsburgh whose empty factories experienced a renewal through the medical technology industry.
His down to earth style and honesty are winning hearts and votes, in the Heartland.
February 9, 2012 at 2:52 am
Huh. If David Brooks said something good about Santorum, he must believe he has less chance of beating Obama than any of the others—David Brooks defines "good" exclusively in relation to the Democratic Party.
Fortunately, Brooks is neither very bright nor very in-touch, so he's probably wrong about how electable Santorum is.