Reasons That Rick Santorum May Be the '12 GOP Nominee

Politics/Social Issues - Politics

By: GeorgeSommers     14-Feb-2012

Introduction:

If anyone said Rick Santorum had a serious chance at the GOP nomination up to a couple of weeks ago, I would have laughed. Look who's laughing now.

Where There's a Willard, There's a Way

Conventional wisdom had it that Willard "Mitt" Romney had the money, momentum and called in favors and that his nomination was a foregone conclusion. Conventional wisdom was turned on its ear when Newt Gingrich beat Romney in So. Carolina followed by dark horse Rick Santorum pulling off a surprise 3 state sweep of Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. Santorum also won the kickoff Iowa caucus in a squeaker although a miscount had Romney as the declared victor for several days. The true conservative base of the Republican party never seemed to really trust or cotton to "Massachusetts moderate" Romney.

The Muck Stops Here

Romney was successful in quashing potential rivals by having himself, surrogates or the super PACs, of which he has no (cough, cough) control over sling ample amounts of mud. Gingrich didn't help himself by having a "pit bull" personality and a lot of baggage. The strategy might backfire if attempted against Santorum by making Romney look desperate and nasty. And agree with his politics or not, Santorum seems like a genuinely nice guy who you'd be fine with as a neighbor.

Mr. Candidate

Santorum has some appealing electoral attributes. He comes from a state with a large electoral vote haul, Pennsylvania. He's a Catholic and can appeal to blue collar voters. And even southern conservatives can be comfortable with his views.

And Then There Was One

The conservative base of the party was initially split among Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich and Perry (and potential candidates like Sarah Palin) allowing Romney to slide by. But most of the conservative alternatives fell by the wayside leaving them to coalesce and rally around Santorum.

Valentine's Heart

Willard Romney's worst nightmare is a two man race, which it now apparently boils down to. And the heart of the party's conservative base, the true believers most fervently committed to voting in the remaining primaries and caucuses; is more likely to go aflutter for Santorum than Romney.





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