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Campaign Crawlers
Santorum’s Smashing Surprise
The underdog’s big win in Louisiana renders ridiculous Romneyworld’s demand that he step aside.
HARAHAN, Louisiana — Rick Santorum scored his 11th victory of the 2012 campaign Saturday, defeating Mitt Romney by a surprisingly wide margin in the Louisiana GOP presidential primary, and the media immediately went to work dismissing this victory as insignificant and inconsequential.
The size of Santorum’s Louisiana victory, however, made it hard to dismiss. While polls had shown the former Pennsylvania senator leading by double digits, no one had imagined that he would win by more than 20 points. Yet with 98 percent of precincts reporting, Santorum had 49 percent to Romney’s 27 percent — and if the margin had been much larger, Santorum would have gotten all 20 of the delegates at stake in the primary. That caused some Santorum supporters, who gathered at the Fox and Hound tavern here to celebrate their victory, to wonder why former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — who finished third with 16 percent of the vote Saturday — remains in the race. One local coordinator for Santorum stepped outside the tavern, lit a cigarette, and said, “Newt’s killing him. … Without Newt, we’d be at 60 percent.”
Gingrich has now admitted that he can’t possibly win the nomination, but continues to campaign, and to disparage Santorum in speeches and media interviews. Newt seems oblivious to the reality that by pulling conservative votes away from Santorum, his continued presence in the race only helps Romney, the moderate whom Gingrich has predicted would “lose badly” to President Obama. But his third-place finish in Louisiana, following his March 13 defeats in Alabama and Mississippi, is likely to make Gingrich increasingly irrelevant to the outcome of future contests.
Santorum added Louisiana to his long list of wins in the American Heartland: Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Dakota, Kansas, Alabama, and Mississippi. The persistence of his popularity among evangelical Christians — 54 percent of whom told exit pollsters in Louisiana that they had voted for Santorum — is almost exactly mirrored by the 48 percent support Romney gets from voters who say they care most about whether a GOP candidate can defeat Barack Obama. The question, however, is whether the Republican voters who consider the former Massachusetts governor more “electable” than Santorum have misjudged what it will take to beat Obama in November.
The problem, as both Santorum and Gingrich have pointed out, is that Romney keeps winning Republican primaries by piling up votes in areas dominated by Democrats and in states that will almost certainly be carried by Obama in November. And whenever any of his conservative rivals appears to pose a threat to his lead, the more moderate front-runner exploits an advantage he certainly won’t have in the fall campaign by burying his GOP opponents with a big-money blitz of attack ads. In the most recent example of this phenomenon, Romney won the Illinois primary Tuesday by outspending Santorum 7-to-1 in advertising, with a 21-to-1 margin in the Chicago market. This helped Romney add to his lead in delegates, but does anyone seriously believe that Romney will beat Obama in Illinois in November? Does anyone think Romney will be able to outspend Obama 7-to-1 anywhere?
The TV commentators keep saying that Romney has a commanding lead in the delegate count, but that lead has been built of rather flimsy stuff. The allegedly “inevitable” nominee has padded his delegate lead with easy wins in Democrat strongholds like Vermont, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, and by running the table in U.S. territories — Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, etc. — that don’t count in presidential elections but do get to send delegates to the GOP convention. Despite all his advantages in terms of money and endorsements, Romney has received barely 40 percent of the popular vote in the Republican primaries and caucuses.
Santorum’s campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley issued a statement calling the Louisiana win a “vindication,” indicating a rejection of “the media’s and the establishment’s declaration that we must fall in line with a moderate from Massachusetts.” By the time the votes were counted in Louisiana, Santorum was already in Wisconsin, which holds its primary April 3. He watched the returns at a pub in Green Bay, where he gave a victory speech in which he made mention of those who have repeatedly counted him out contention.
“We don’t believe, as the pundits have said, that this race is over. We didn’t get the memo,” Santorum said. “We’re still here. We’re still fighting.… I’m not running as a conservative candidate for president. I am the conservative candidate for president.”
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
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Dec| 3.25.12 @ 1:56AM
I applaud your enthusiasm for Rick, but I have some bad newz (sic) for you; since you last awakened, the Confederacy lost the Civil War.
This country is center/right, NOT right/center, and this election could very well be our last chance to retain a Constitutional republic. We'd better win it, and in order to do that we have to appeal to independents, conservative Democrats (both of them), and actual taxpayers.
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 2:26AM
I agree with the need to win this election and the need to win support of independents and conservative Democrats (if there are any left), as well as getting the base to vote. However, I don't see Romney as being better able to connect to those voters. For a man whose record in government is one 4 year term, who lost in 2008 to a candidate with no money, and who has run an uninspired race in 2012, I don't see how he gets the "inevitable" label and "strongest candidate" award. I listen to his 1994 debate clips and cringe. He reminds me of the many years of Republicans candidates who are out of touch and go along with increasing the size of failed government.
Shamus| 3.25.12 @ 9:02PM
Both Santorum and Romney are poor choices. They simply don't connect with voters. Romney is deadly boring, and Santorum has positions that bring him Evangelical Christians, but will turn off voters who aren't hard core conservatives. The only thing that could save Republicans is that Obama is a poor candidate as well.
Pulse| 3.25.12 @ 2:30AM
Dec, you chirp a talking point just like a blonde bimbo on MSNBC, NBC or FOX.
Obama would lose to Tinker Bell.
Whomever is on the ballot opposing Obama will win, barring some cataclysmic catastrophe that sane people (Pres./VP candidates) would not make.
And.....Dec. if you noticed, Santorum is appealing to those conservative Demoncrats. Even Newt does.
You need to take a road trip across the country and listen to the people. The venom toward Obama/Biden/Ried/Pelosi/Boxer/Wasserwoman-Schulz is huge.
Barring some massive level of ACORN-like vote fraud in big electoral count states, "ABO" wins on November 6, 2012.
Doesn't mean that "ABO" is super or deserving or the rescuer, but "ABO" wins. 60/40. If energy prices climb even more, it will be 65/35.
gearjammer| 3.25.12 @ 8:44AM
You been listening to Limbaugh and Levin way too much. Those two birds totally ignore reality of the electoral college. Whether you like it or not we need to win states like North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia in a general election. Suburban voters matter-and I am gonna tell ya religious zealotry is a killer amongst such folks. Gas prices and all Obama is doing fairly well in polls-that 41 rating Rush and the rest always talk about is old news dude. 10 dollar a gallon gas won't stop Obama if we are all about right wing extremism.
chuck| 3.25.12 @ 9:16AM
Damn gearjammer, out here in the real world, we are pissed about $4.00 gas, the shitty economy, Obamacare, and the overall sense that things are NOT getting better, and that Onumnutz hasn't a clue has to what is necessary to fix it.
Obama is toast! Elmer Fudd/ Mr. Magoo could beat Obama/Biden.
Simon Templar| 3.25.12 @ 12:55PM
I have a news flash for you, the last time we won appealling, as you say, to the independents and conservative democrats was with a candidate considered to be the biggest and most extreme right wing monster was in 1980. His name was Ronald Reagan and he was presented by the MSM as a crazy, right wing, war mongering, incompetent, and life long conservative rabble rouser, and much of that came from his own party.
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 2:11PM
I know OF [AND VOTED FOR] RONALD REAGAN and believe me Rick Santorum is NO RONALD REAGAN [NOR WILL HE EVER BE SUCH]. Reagan appealed to all conservatives and did not use his religious faith as a coat of arms to victory, as Santorum does constantly. Reagan appealed also to independents and to REAGAN DEMOCRATS, which Santorum does not and will not due to his EXTREME RELIGIOSITY AND STRICTLY MORALITY MESSAGING. Santorum is a loser and IMHO a worthless one who selfishly chose to equate a fellow Republican [against Reagan's 11th Commandment] to the current extremely radical, socialist Democrat. That is way beyond Reagan's Commandment, and I have no doubt that his son Michael would back me up on this [as has Newt Gingrich per his recent condemnation of Santorum for doing thus]. When Goldwater got slaughtered by Johnson in the 1960's, at least Goldwater was a very principled individual, as was Reagan. Santorum is nothing but a political prostitute who'll stop at nothing in slandering other Republicans in his religious quest for victory. It will not work and he will be eliminated rightfully. I can accept Romney's being a Yankee who instituted a healtcare bill in his extremely liberal northern state dominated by the Kennedys, but I can't/won't accept a two-faced labor unionist masquerading as a conservative Republican!!!!!
Dai Alanye | 3.26.12 @ 11:28AM
More distortion and ranting. OF is making an appeal from an emotional point of view not logic.
The idea that living the suburbs makes voters hate relious individuals is bizarre to say the least, and condemning Santorum for criticizing Romney is purely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. In public, Romney is all sweetness and light toward his fellow candidate, but his surrogates and his phone robots lie and distort continually.
Essentially, Santorum has called Romney a loser, certainly a criticism that fits. Were Mitt a winner, his resources and endorsements would have locked-up this race long ago. Furthermore, we need to take the Etch-A-Sketch criticism quite seriously. This was Mitt's communications director baldly starting that a left turn was in the offing once the nomination had been secured.
Wise up! Romney is no conservative.
The Bruce| 3.26.12 @ 11:58PM
"...Romney is no conservative."
And, based on their voting records and positions throughout the years, neither are Santorum nor Gingrich.
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 2:49PM
You nailed it Simon. The most successful Republican candidate in attracting independent and Democratic voters was our most conservative one. There is so much posturing in politics, that it breeds credibility problems. Reagan showed that the right policies, sincerely offered with a positive disposition, is unbeatable.
Anthony| 3.25.12 @ 3:16PM
Everyone loves Reagan, but was he really that conservative? He signed legeslation to legalize abortion, he made a deal with the Dems to raise taxes without cutting spending, signed the Martin King holiday bill and he ran like hell when our troops were killed by terrorists in Lebanon. Put that beside the fact that John Anderson took votes away from one of the weakest incumbents in history and it wasn't really that great a victory for conservatism. We conservatives are right on all the issues, but unfortunately our fellow citizens are a little more to the left than us. If Santorum couldn't beat the feeble-minded Casey in his own state, how does he defeat the national media, the comintern and Obama?
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 3:50PM
Hi Anthony,
You are certainly right that the Reagan record was more mixed than what many people remember. You could throw in amnesty bill as well. Nonetheless, he was more focused on reducing the size of government than anyone else in office for the last several decades. And, while there were mistakes, he had a record we could build on. If you weren't impressed with his victory over Carter, how about the 59% 49 state victory over Mondale, coming after a very bad debate performance? What other GOP candidate has had a group of Democrats named after him (Reagan Democrats)? I never heard of Dole Democrats, McCain Democrats or Romney Democrats.
In terms of Santorum, I recognize his weaknesses, but I think he is a stronger candidate than Romney. I am not focusing on the press' characterization of Santorum, because the GOP nominee will get the same treatment, regardless of who it is. One of the things we need our candidate to do is to be able to defend himself against a heavily-biased press. Both Romney and Santorum have made gaffes, but I think Santorum is better than Romney at defending himself. I think he connects to middle-class voters better than Romney. I think he is authentic while Romney is essentially saying what he thinks will get him elected. And for the vast majority of the voters, the biggest issue is Obama - for him or against him. The differences between the GOP candidates are not nearly as large as the gulf between them and Obama. While I support Santorum, I can live with Romney as the nominee, but I expect to be disappointed by him.
Todd Powers| 3.26.12 @ 12:57AM
Nicely done, RJ. Reagan had Tip O'Neill leading a huge Democratic majority in the House and, even though the Republicans controlled the Senate for 2 of Reagan's 8 years, the GOP Senate caucus was so liberal back that Olympia Snowe would've been considered a moderate.
And who's to say that Santorum can't appeal to Independents? Though not a dynamic personality, he's not going to be easily caricatured when people take a good long look at him.
RJ| 3.26.12 @ 1:20AM
Thank- you, Todd. I still dream of what Reagan and the Republican Congress of the 94 elections could have done if they were in office at the same time. It was a joy to see how Reagan got his message through over a hostile press (they couldn't lay a hand on him) and Congress.
Todd Powers| 3.26.12 @ 12:57AM
Nicely done, RJ. Reagan had Tip O'Neill leading a huge Democratic majority in the House and, even though the Republicans controlled the Senate for 2 of Reagan's 8 years, the GOP Senate caucus was so liberal back that Olympia Snowe would've been considered a moderate.
And who's to say that Santorum can't appeal to Independents? Though not a dynamic personality, he's not going to be easily caricatured when people take a good long look at him.
The Bruce| 3.27.12 @ 12:12AM
RJ, in many ways I agree with you -- perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part.
I'm just not convinced that the electorate of 1980 is the same as the one that exists here in 2012. This country might still be center/right, but the needle on that dial has been slowly moving to the left for a few decades now.
I pray I'm wrong, because I'm not blind to what the entitlement society mindset is wreaking in Europe.
RJ| 3.27.12 @ 1:28AM
Hi Bruce,
I have the same fear. One thing to consider though, as people get older, they usually get more conservative based on their life's experiences, so perhaps our frame of reference has changed to the right, which makes America look more left. If I may paraphrase Churchill, "If you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you are not a conservative when you are 40, you have no brain." Liberal platitudes may sound compelling when you first hear them; they become silly after you have experienced the failure of similar ideas. LBJ's "Great Society" was a lesson for many of us as to the limits and risks the power of extended government.
One thing seems clear to me: we lose ground when we buy into the left's premise in an effort to seem moderate. To win elections, we need to present a clear contrast, pointing out the benefits and virtue of freedom versus the exploitation of more government control.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:40PM
I have a friend who met Santorum in Minnesota (I work so many hours/or am on call that sleep is always my major leisure activity) and liked him. I voted for him, myself.
Santorum is a better candidate than Romney. Just as squeaky clean personally and wanting to kick Obama in the nuts.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 8:07PM
Tool Job's A RINO-CINO Israel Firster Smear Bund Phoney,You Said He Will Vote For The RINO-CINO Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Frontman, Mittens Romney.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To An Open CConvention.
The Bruce| 3.27.12 @ 12:13AM
Shut up, Meg.
Teemu| 3.25.12 @ 2:17AM
"does anyone seriously believe that Romney will beat Obama in Illinois in November?"
Does anybody seriously believe that Obama is going to beat Romney in Louisiana in November?
Obama took Virginia and North Carolina because of his gains in sub urban areas compared to Kerry 2004. In Virginia, even 100k-150k income bracket was basically a tie between him and McCain, 48-49. Same in every other swing state lost, it was the sub urbs.
Dick Nome| 3.25.12 @ 8:53AM
Romney won in VA because he was the only candidate init unless you count Rube Paul who gets no traction anywhere.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 9:10AM
Israel Firster Smear Bund BibiBots Are Scared Of A Brokered Convention.
" In a head to head match up with incumbent President Barack Obama, the indie voter chooses Ron Paul, a CBS News poll suggested on Monday.
A total of 47% of independent voters said they would choose Ron Paul compared to 45% of independent voters choosing Mitt Romney against Obama, and 41% of independents saying they would choose Rick Santorum. If a Paul-Obama showdown were ever to take place, 47% of independent voters would vote for Paul, 81% republicans and 10% Democrats for a total of 45% of the vote. Obama would get just 40% of the independent vote in that contest, with 85% of the Democrats choosing Obama and 9% of Republicans choosing the President on election day in November. Obama would win the general election by a narrow one point margin if the election was held today between the two."
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
chuck| 3.25.12 @ 9:26AM
Damn Clint! I could beat Obummer with independent voters! The only people who will vote for King Numbnuts the next time around will be hard-core Democrats, if they can muster up the energy to go vote.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 9:35AM
Read The Post Chuckie, The Serial Smear Bund Buffoon.
" If a Paul-Obama showdown were ever to take place, 47% of independent voters would vote for Paul, 81% republicans and 10% Democrats for a total of 45% of the vote."
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Bubba T. | 3.25.12 @ 11:14AM
Hey, guys, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over Uncle Clint's daily ramblings. Look at it as a kind of ... cerebrum therapy for the mentally challenged. Besides, word from the latest issue of Medicine Today has a report on some marvelous new treatments in the war on Alzheimer's, cooties, and a potential cure for thumb sucking.
Me? I say, leave ol' Clint and his thumb alone. At least it keeps his mouth busy for a few hours.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 11:21AM
ApparentlyBooBaa, The RINO-CINO Ruling Elites' Flunkie Stooge Sheep Is Scared Of The Tea Party Rebellion & An Open Convention.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:41PM
Clint, Bibi could kick your ass. Not breathing hard.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 7:54PM
The Hell Your Israeli Mancrush Punk Could, Little, Short, Fat, Aging Israel Firster Maniac.
Tell Him To Meet Me In My Gym's Ring And I'll Give Him An Attitude Adjustment.
You Can Hold Hold His Jock,Like Ya Always Do, Little,Short,Fat,Aging Jock Sniffer,Tool Job.
The Bruce| 3.27.12 @ 12:18AM
"Me? I say, leave ol' Clint and his thumb alone. At least it keeps his mouth busy for a few hours."
It's what his thumb is doing to his ass that concerns me.
Todd Powers| 3.26.12 @ 12:59AM
And, chuck, they'll REALLY have to be hard core Democrats, because that's all that will vote for him.
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 1:51PM
MEDIA MATTERS BOY wants a brokered convention so as to benefit his paymaster El Chosen One in November no doubt!!!!
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 3:57PM
That's A Lie.
You're A Liar, Oldefarte.
You're The Serial Hypocrite, Who's Always Runnin' Your Fraud Big Mouth About The Truth.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To An Open Convention.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:42PM
Oldefarte tells truth---Clitoris protests too much.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 8:01PM
The Little Short, Fat, Aging, Screwball Israel Firster Maniac,Tool Job Is A Serial Liar.
Aaaaand, Tool Job Says His Girlfriend, Bibi's Smells Like Tuna Fish.
Teemu| 3.25.12 @ 2:27AM
No way would have Santorum won primary in Colorado if they would have had primary instead of caucuses, Minnesota also unlikely, if Colorado had real primary, not nonbinding beauty contest which had just 40% of 2008 primary turnout, I guess chances are slight that Santorum would have won there also. But Obama didn't win Missouri in 2008, even when he won traditionally redder swing states like Indiana and North Carolina.
Santorum has won primaries only in states that McCain won by 14-31 points against Obama. You can't win the general election with 2008 McCain states.
Teemu| 3.25.12 @ 2:29AM
*, if Missouri had real primary, not nonbinding beauty contest which had just 40% of 2008 primary turnout, I guess chances are that Santorum would have won there also. But Obama didn't win Missouri in 2008, even when he won traditionally redder swing states like Indiana and North Carolina.
Rory| 3.25.12 @ 2:44AM
The people just don't like Etch-a-Sketch flakes and fakes.
Or people who BUY their way in.
That's why this campaign needs to continue. That's why we'd need a real televised (or webcast) debate with real people asking the meaty questions. No commercials. Non-stop, 3 hours. No bimbos sitting there with 20 second egg-timers to "bing" when answer time is up.
See, that is what Mittens has masterminded -- the 15 seconds of rehearsed lines.
Sooner or later Romney's makeup comes off. (and what he has is NOT pretty underneath -- I'm not talking aesthetics)
Odd that article author Robert Stacy McCain was pillorying Santorum just yesterday on these same pages.
Cris Worth| 3.25.12 @ 7:41AM
This Etch a Sketch fiasco did more harm to Romney beyond the conventional wisdom of a minor gaffe or joke. It is exactly what Romney will do if he is nominated. Nixon's old adage run to the right to win the nomination and move to the center to win the election. Romney moved to the right but only in a half-hearted way not convincing enough especially social conservatives as the Louisiana exit polls proved. Unlike Bill who was an unusually good liar, Romney is a bad one. There is still time to nominate someone else otherwise the GOP is stuck with a nominee who is not a free market entrepreneur but a rapacious businessman, who is not pro-life but a Roe v. Wade enthusiast and will split the conservative base and lose the election.
Teemu| 3.25.12 @ 2:55AM
"Yet with 98 percent of precincts reporting, Santorum had 49 percent to Romney's 27 percent -- and if the margin had been much larger, Santorum would have gotten all 20 of the delegates at stake in the primary. -- wonder why former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains in the race. "
Actually Gingrich was closer to cause Romney not to get any delegates out of this primary. There was 25% threshold required for delegate allocation, but there was NO threshold for winner-take-all, there was no WTA at all available, so the only way Santorum could have gotten all the delegates was if Romney staid below 25%. Without Gingrich, because of some Gingrich voters staying home and some voting Romney, Romney would have probably gotten 30% or so, much nicer distance from the 25% threshold.
Awlhattin O'Kaddle| 3.25.12 @ 5:26AM
NEW BLACK PANTHER POSTER
'WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE - $10,000 REWARD
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'
Links On Drudge
Chuck| 3.25.12 @ 7:22AM
From a geographical POV, Romney's weakness is the Deep South of course this is patently obvious. As any political schmuck knows the GOP has to carry EVERY southern state from VA to TX in order to win the general election. Therefore Romney should drop out; heck he can't win his home state. Brokered convention anyone?
The Bruce| 3.27.12 @ 12:39AM
The Deep South argument might hold true in a primary, where a true Conservative will generally win the day over the less Conservative. However, in a general election, the calculus changes. Given a choice between a hard-Left radical and even a RINO, the South will still vote for the RINO (with Florida being the deciding vote).
rightasrain| 3.25.12 @ 7:42AM
According to the author, Romney has "padded " his delegate count with "easy" wins but Santorum's wins in heavily evangelical areas are "smashing." There's objectivity for you.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.25.12 @ 7:47AM
Santorum won Louisiana. Congratulations Rick!
Now get out of the race because you are going to get smashed in all the remaining contests and you know it.
Dick Nome| 3.25.12 @ 8:56AM
Bill, GFY, I haven't had a chance to vote yet and I intend to vote for Rick. GFY
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.25.12 @ 7:14PM
So, your one vote will change reality? Not likely. Another delusional poster.
Von Mises Jr.| 3.25.12 @ 8:42AM
I say send the few liberals in the Red States to DC, NY, MA, the left coast or Detroit and fence them off. They can have their own like Cuban-like islands and the rest of America can re-adopt the Constitution. Case closed.
They can have the Jihadist as a consolation prize.
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 2:57PM
I like it, but why not send them to the real thing: Cuba, France, Egypt and a whole host of other socialist countries?
martin j smith| 3.25.12 @ 8:46AM
Obama now has a record and no matter how the MSM spin it, people feel its impact directly oh like the price of gas for example and the real unemployment levels and the price of food,clothing etc. Those who are being played to pay will vote Obama those not so will not it is that simple. Mickey Mouse or Etch a Sketch can beat Obama.
martin j smith| 3.25.12 @ 8:57AM
The good thing about Santorum winning is that it continues to expose Romney's weakness --that is Mr Etch a sketch and all that means.
beebop2| 3.25.12 @ 9:44AM
He lost me at the implication that 0bama is better for America than Romney. Rick took on the mantle of petulant that Newton had been wearing so successfully. I am tired of these cry babies. Who do they think will listen when then whine about 0bama's treatment? Seriously.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 9:46AM
Mr. RINO-CINO Ruling Elites' Fop Frontman Is Flippy Flopped & Sketchy On His Etchings.
The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 2:15PM
I'll take ALL OF THEM over a MEDIA MATTERS PROSTITUTE SERVING EL CHOSEN ONE'S @1600 DISGUISED ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATES AND REPRESENTATIVES!!!!!!!!
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 4:02PM
That's A Lie.
You're A Liar, Oldefarte.
Your The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooge,Who Is Gonna Vote For The Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Frontman, Mittens Romney.
You're The Serial Hypocrite, Who's Always Runnin' Your Fraud Big Mouth About The Truth.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To An Open Convention.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:43PM
Clint: you protest too much. ROFL.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 8:17PM
While You & Your Mancrush, Bibi Attempt To Get Our American Warriors To Do Your Coward Israel Firster Fightin' For Ya.
Aaaand,You're Good At Rollin' On The Floor Little, Short, Fat, Bibi Doggie.
Now, Go Fetch Bibi's Bone, Doggie Tool Job.
William R| 3.25.12 @ 9:57AM
Only an idiot like Robert Stacy MCCain would think Rick Santorum is a conservative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....-WezrKqUBQ
Vern Crisler | 3.25.12 @ 1:17PM
Troll
FiddlerBob| 3.25.12 @ 11:16AM
Anyone who has been 14 years a resident, has attained the age of 35, and is a natural born citizen can beat Obama. He is an ineligible fraud.
Whoever wins, unless he addresses Obama's lack of eligibility and completely nullifies his fraudulent presidency, doesn't really matter.
We will only have a Constitutional Republic as long as we adhere to the Constitution.
To the Obama apologists, Kool-Aid drinkers, and any members of the Ostrich Party: If you want to elect a socialist, Marxist, America-hating traitor for President, at least find one who's Constitutionally eligible for the job.
Tom| 3.25.12 @ 12:19PM
Santorum is an evangelical fanatic to most of us. No way he could win nationally. Just get a life, Rick, somewhere outside of politics.
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 12:34PM
The RINO-CINO Ruling Elite Wall Street Frontman, Romney Fully Intends To Sell Out Real Conservatism, If He Can Fool Enough Conservatives During The GOP Primaries With His Mormon Two Steppin', Etch A Sketchin', Flip Floppin' Shuck & Jive.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To An Open Convention.
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 2:18PM
First the MEDIA MATTERS HOOKER fronts for his St Paul of LJ and now he's on the street corner taking $10 bills for the RICKSTER-CATHOLIC CRUSADER. Which is it, or can't you make up your mind????????
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 3:47PM
Now Tell All The American Spectator The Truth About What Church You Attend Now, OldeFarte Ax Grinder Catholic Basher, Fart.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To An Opened Convention.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:45PM
A religious test doesn't matter, Clint. What surprises me is why you are trying to get a nuke aimed at the Vatican. Or, do you think Iran will stop at Tel-Aviv?
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 8:24PM
Interesting, That The Screwball Israel Firster Smear Bund Maniac Jew,Tool Job,Who Uses A Catholic Heretic Moniker Thinks He 's Gonna Lecture Us Catholics.
Bibi's Closer To Iran Than Our Vatican And Our Pope Benedict.
Why Doesn't Your Mancrush, Bibi Attack Iran, Israel Firster Smear Bund Screwball Maniac Tool Job.
What's He Waitin' For, A Note From His Mommy ?
richard mcenroe | 3.25.12 @ 12:48PM
It's time to call a spade a spade. Mitt Romney is not a moderate. He is not a Republican. He is a carpetbagger, going wherever he has to and saying whatever he has to say for his own advantage while meaning none of it. His own wife has admitted they didn't even know any Republicans before Mitt decided he could use them in 2002, and he has been happy to stab them and conservatives in the back since.
The campaign he is running now is poison to the GOP. As with Meg Whitman in CA, the constant barrage of attack ads will alienate and disgust the electorate at large, driving them away from both the candidate and his party. This is not a theory; this is documented history.
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 3:14PM
Meg Whitman's campaign was short on substance and was dreadful. It seemed she thought she could buy the governorship. What surprised me is that Carly Fiorina, who struck me as a better candidate going against a weaker opponent (Barbara Boxer) lost by a similar wide margin, as did all the GOP statewide candidates. 2010 was the worst GOP election in California that I can remember. It didn't matter what either the Democrat or Republican candidate said or did; 60% of the voters were going to vote Democratic regardless. I fear that the younger generation is trending this way as well. Have we become a people who will vote for weak candidates, pushing failed policies just so long as they promise us the most stuff?
Vern Crisler | 3.25.12 @ 1:16PM
For us Newt supporters, it is Santorum who is pulling votes away from Newt. I personally don't think Santorum can win against Obama. His lack of leadership experience will come back to bite him during the general election campaign, and the media isn't going to give him any passes for all the gaffes he will commit.
Still, if Santorum manages to be the nominee, at least I can pull the lever for him. There's simply no way I can do that for Mr. Etch a Sketch.
Bill| 3.25.12 @ 1:55PM
LA is always RED, doesn't matter who wins it in the GOP race. Considering Romney's win in OH, MI, IL; a BIG DEAL!
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 2:31PM
This Louisiana victory means absolutely nothing. Louisiana voters [especially the southern half of the state] is only expressing it CATHOLISM since 80%+ of the population of same are born/bred in that religion [and as such are voting for their fellow Catholic Rick]. Additionally Louisiana voters will follow their recent history/tradition of voting Republican [so will vote for Romney IF he ends up the Republican nominee]. After Obama and Holder have slammed the state's oil revenues and jobs by not issuing oil drilling permits after BP, there's a ton of animosity in that state over same, and they will flock to the polls in November to defeat obama/Democrats [as will the rest of the southern states]. To claim that Romney is SUCCESSFULLY translating campaign advertising spending dollars into votes for him is ludicrous and insane. Sure he spends much more than others but that does not equate into a one for one vote obtaining measure [Obama's $trillions spent in ads in 2008 only resulted in his marginally beating his far outspent Republican opponent McCain]. This is just Santorum's whinning with his Catholic teammates of Romney's having more campaign money. Also 40% of the popular vote captured by Romney is more than adequate concerning the fact that three other candidates NOW are competing against him [IF it were just he and Rickster, his percentage would no doubt 60%]. Santorum will not win and if by chance he soes so, the Republicans and all other sane people had better move to Europe because Obama will beat him like a drum in November!!!!!!!!!!!
Oldefarte| 3.25.12 @ 2:40PM
PS: Maybe the RICKSTER should extracate BIG TEDDY K FROM CATHOLIC MASS and they could collect 100% of those Catholic Louisiana votes!!!!!!!
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 3:51PM
OldeFarte Has An Ax Grinding Fixation With Current Practicing Catholics.
Name The Church You Presently Attend, Catholic Bashing OldeFarte.
Occam's Tool| 3.25.12 @ 6:47PM
Rome is closer to Teheran than NYC is to LA. Why does Clint want an Iranian nuke targeted at the vatican?
Clint| 3.25.12 @ 7:46PM
Iran Is Closer To Bibi Than The United States And Bibi & His Little Maniac Neo-Chickenhawk Coatholder Coward Screwball BibiBot ,Tool Job Want The United States To Do Their Fightin' For Them, Again?
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Little, Short,Fat, Aging Jew,Tool Job,Who Uses The Moniker Of A Catholic Heretic.
Anthony| 3.25.12 @ 6:17PM
I guess "old" is the key part of your alias. Are you still in the 1930s? His Catholic teammates? We should only wish that Catholics voted as a bloc and voted closer to what Catholicism teaches, no conservative would ever lose again. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, American Catholics, like their Protestant and Jewish brothers, have been swallowed up by the great secular religion that now reigns in the modern USA.
MikeG| 3.25.12 @ 11:53PM
Catholic teamates? In addition to being a bigot you are illiterate. Have you ever heard of a "paragraph?"
Tim| 3.25.12 @ 3:06PM
I was busy attending Church this morning but now I have read a quote from the Romney Campaign regarding the Santorum win.
A Romney top campaign aide states
" Santorum is celebrating a field goal while being down by seven touchdowns with one minute to go in the game."
Oh really, I see it more like a Santorum touchdown making the score 21 to 7 Romney with 7 Min left in the third quarter.
The field goal comment refers to Southerners as non important to this election and is exactly why Romney would loose to Obama.
Not that any conservative would ever vote for Obama but that his distaste for the social conservatives will depress their turn out in key States handing Obama a second term.
Its so Sad and transparent that it is beyond words.
RJ| 3.25.12 @ 3:24PM
Hi Tim,
I, like you am a Santorum supporter, but I believe that Romney, as a devout Mormon, is probably very much a social conservative, in terms of how he lives his life. My concern with him is his apparent lack of core political values in support of liberty and limited government. With Reagan and Palin, you knew that they were authentic in their political philosophy. Romney is the picture of someone who wants to be elected and adopts whatever he thinks will get him elected.
MikeG| 3.25.12 @ 11:55PM
The first test of a conservative is how he lives his family/private life. Romney and Santorum pass with flying colors. Newt with three wives, always cheating on one while married is not a conservative.
Biggy G| 3.25.12 @ 4:44PM
Santorum currently benefits in the South from the fact that he is running against a Mormon. The choice between Romney and Santorum is made easy for your typical Catholic or Evangelical southerner by Romney's religion.
There is, however, one group that conservative southerners dislike more than Mormons, and Romney will be running against Obama in November. At that point, all of those Santorum voters will face a choice between Romney and staying home; most will vote for Romney.
RCV| 3.25.12 @ 5:15PM
We all understand Robert Stacy McCain's role as Head Cheerleader for Rick Santorum, reprising his previous job as Head Ceerleader for Herman Cain. But unless he's truly delusional -- and I don't believe that given his obvious intelligence -- he can't seriously regard Santorum's drubbing of Romney in Louisiana (Louisiana, for Pete's sakes!) as a "smashing surprise". The surprise would have been if someone as moderate as Romney beat any conservative in that state.
Robert is right that it says volumes about the futility of Gingrich's candidacy that he did so poorly in another conservative Southern state, worse than in his fatal failures to capture Mississippi and Alabama. But the notion that Gingrich's dropping out would allow Santorum to overcome Romney's lead is nonsense. As polls confirm, Gingrich dropping out would actually benefit Romney, who would capture up to half of his supporters. Much of Gingrich's appeal is his intellectualism, and dynamic creativity. Santorum is the last guy those supporters would look to.
The sad reality for true conservatives in the GOP is that the had an ideal opportunity this year to capture the nomination and to beat Obama. This was their year. And the blew it -- with disunity, vicious attacks on each conservative front-runner in turn. Now they are left with a nominee that most of the party doesn't like, and who will not be a very attractive contrast in the general election. Yes, Romney will likel lose, but he'll certainly do better at this point than any viable alternative, and certainly better than Santorum, who runs well behind Romney in any face off with Obama in virtually all the battleground states.
As a Democrat, I'm more than happy to have Santorum and Gingrich saying all the things about Romney that we'll be able to quote them for in the fall. And I'm also happy for them to make Romney spend more and more of his funds in the primary, rather than in the general. It only compounds the astounding mistakes conservatives have made throughout this most interesting campaign year.
Bob| 3.25.12 @ 5:50PM
You obviously do not understand the Democrat strategy for this election season. A few ads here and there isn't their focus. They're looking to turn a few issues into national crises on which they can put the President's face to remind people they need him. They tried to make contraception and "women's rights" an issue, but people are already seeing past their ruse. Now, they seized upon the shooting death of a teen named Trayvon to rally the black community behind Obama. They're using misinformation to make it look like the shooter was another angry white man, as are all opponents of Obama, and portray angry white men (ie, the Tea Party) as dangerous, and putting Obama as the hero who puts them in their place.
They can't win attacking the candidates, since Obama's record is non-existent and our candidates can throw any charges they make against them. They can only win by aggrandizing Obama, making him the Chosen One that the black community must come out to vote to keep him in power.
Oh, and there's the little detail of unprecedented voter fraud that will take place since the Justice Department repeatedly claims that voter identification amounts to discrimination against Hispanics. Hey, can't identify them when they're here ILLEGALLY. There's that race card again.
Bob| 3.25.12 @ 5:43PM
Newt may or may not be a better candidate than Santorum or Romney, but right now he has very little chance of getting the nomination. Realistically, he has no chance. What he's doing right now is diverting votes away from Santorum, so instead of winning crushing victories or winning close races that Romney ended up winning, Santorum just manages to eke out wins here and there.
martin j smith| 3.25.12 @ 6:07PM
No one should get out of this race till they want to. Meanwhile Etch a Sketch has to earn the nomination
I have strongly suspected that Santorum is in the race to push Etch a Sketch to the right and to expose his flaws. Newt I am not as clear about his motives. Maybe similar to Santorum .
Les| 3.25.12 @ 8:06PM
Santorum's stenogrophers strike again.
Tim| 3.25.12 @ 8:28PM
Its not that a conservative will stay home and boycott Romney its that some strong conservatives in crucial purple states may not be motivated enough to actually go vote at all.
In some states 1-3 percent will be the difference
between Red and Blue.
And as Romney likes to say over and over its about the numbers game and in November its about the Electoral Map game.
That's the scary thing about a Romney Run, the flip flops and other bagggage that will be aired 24/7 by the Obamma marxist Chicago machine may depress that 1-2 percent extra concervative vote he would need in the important purple States.
Mike Hawk| 3.25.12 @ 8:39PM
Take heart Clint, even tough Rube Paul is going nowhere, you can still vote for Bob (with one 'o') Casey. He's your guy.
Mike Hawk| 3.25.12 @ 9:42PM
That should be "even though Rube Paul is going nowhere". Yeah we know, he's tough, he rides bicycles when sane people wouldn't.
POST American| 3.26.12 @ 12:23AM
---------------------BOTTOM LINE-------------------------
"Notice AGAIN, as the REAL campaign approaches
---the REAL issues 'disappear'."
----'TTT-Rick Sanitarium'?
or 'SUB-Mitt ROME--knee'?
------ALLLLL the excitement
---------ALLLLL the breadth of Goldman vs. Sacks.
And then!----the FINAL face off with
former Kissinger aide, 'BAR---Rockefeller' Obama.
In this, the 11h hour of the CFR Globalist-RED China
handover and takedown op ------as
our economy is DIS---Abel-ed and tranferred,
as 80% of our oil is shipped to China, as
total police state surveillance is in place
---as CHEM-trails, weapononized GM food,
water, meds and injections ----ARE FACT
---as Princeton EUGENISTS call for 'fierce'
eugenics against children up to 3
---and others speak openly of up to 8
---as FINAL EUGENICS are on the move----
"Unless we face the FACT that the
worst has ALREADY been done to us
-----WE"RE FINISHED."
--------------The REPUBLIC has FALLEN-------------
NOW, what are we going to do about it?
Molly| 3.26.12 @ 12:26AM
Unbelievable that people still think Romney is better than Santorum! Really??? He lost to McCain! Liberals vote for liberal democrats in the election no matter who the Republican liberal is....They vote for whoever has a "D" behind their name. If Romney is able to pull a win it is a loss to conservatives and what they stand for! This is simply another "accomplishment" on his resume and he will govern in the middle - just like Bush. That will not save this country! I really don't get how "conservatives" can support Romney and paint him as the front runner in the most important election in my lifetime...I think he is an improvement over Obama at least :(
Les| 3.26.12 @ 12:24PM
Goord arguement. Of course Santy lost to the great Bob Casey,by 20 pts!
The Bruce| 3.27.12 @ 12:52AM
The primary difference between the 2012 election, as opposed to 1980, 1996, and even 2008, is that the Republican on the ticket wasn't running against a hard-Left radical on the Democrat ticket.
Was Jimmy Carter a radical? No, just an incompetent doofus. Was Bill Clinton a radical? No, and he only won on a plurality vote thanks to a certain 3rd-party Ross Perot sucking up the conservative/libertarian votes from Dole (1996).
And 2008? Obama won because he sounded more "conservative" than McCain!!! Not to mention that the Republican brand was tarnished by Bush. Now that Obama has a Leftist record he can't defend, and given his approval numbers, I believe an empty Pepsi can can beat him.