My point has been missed by most of Santorum’s blind supporters. And if they do know it, they don’t care about fiscal/economic issues. They only care about his narrow social agenda.
That is my impression as well. Although, I do need to look at this contraception issue, because I honestly haven't read his take on it, how he's defining etc. All I know is that it's being spun as though he wants to deny Americans access to birth control. I doubt that's truly the case, but if it is, it's a deal breaker for a huge swath of a potential voters.
John Adams said as much. If Americans will not react positively to an appeal to conservative social reforms then all is lost anyway.
Being an historian I think your man Newt would agree.