I have to agree with this. Santorum did better than Newt, but he never had a chance to win because too many conservatives recognized he could never win a national general election. Santorum was 2012's version of Mike Huckabee (2008) and Pat Robertson (1988). Santorum and Huckabee may be good family folks, but they would have no chance in an actual general election nationally. Newt could have been a consensus candidate, but social conservatives seem determined to go with the scripture quoting guy rather than considering anyone we can all coalesce behind. Outside of social issues, it is not even like Santorum had some great conservative economic record that could even attract fiscal conservatives. All he had was the social issues and that simply is not enough to attract enough conservatives even at the base and grass roots level to be viable against the establishment candidate.
I just don't see how this impasse is resolved easily. All it will likely take to splinter the conservative GOP base again in 2016 or 2020 is for Rick Santorum to run yet again. He will get the same voters, which is to say, just enough to keep a consensus conservative alternative from rising through the primaries.
“Santorum did better than Newt, but he never had a chance to win because too many conservatives recognized he could never win a national general election.”
1 - Both Santorum and Newt were second tier, mediocre (at best) candidates.
2 - It amazes me that some Newt supporters are myopic enough to think that Newt could have won the general. Santorum had a better shot by far.
I thought this election would be an inspiration and a chance for conservatism to blossom. Far from it!
However, anyone thinking that another four years of 0 is preferable to Romney is severely delusional. We can’t afford 0’s spending, and we REALLY can’t afford any SCOTUS picks of his.
I’m sure many that’re saying they’ll not vote, or will vote third party will instead come to their senses by November.