Santorum: The Darkest Horse ("Palin is the only endorsement anyone wants!")

National Review Online ^ | June 17, 2010 | Robert Costa

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

After Rick Santorum lost his Senate seat in 2006, he was, to many, a political dead man. Not only did he lose, but he lost big — by 18 points — to Democrat Bob Casey. Statistically, it was the worst loss for a sitting senator since Ronald Reagan’s first term. So, when Santorum travels to Iowa and New Hampshire these days as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, he’s a dark horse only Anna Sewell could love.

(snip)

Santorum, however, doesn’t play coy when I ask him about what his endorsement means to a fellow Republican, if anything. “Palin is the only endorsement anyone wants,” he laughs. “If you ask who the most influential endorsers are, Palin is numbers one, two, and three, with maybe Sen. Jim DeMint at four. Her endorsement is the only one that matters this year. Just look at what she did for Nikki Haley.”

What about Romney, the man Santorum supported in the 2008 presidential campaign? “No offense to Mitt, but he doesn’t carry the weight,” Santorum says. “Mitt can help you with some finance people, maybe in some small way, but his pull is insignificant compared to Palin’s.”

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Rick understands.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

((((PING))))

[ClearCase_guy]

The GOP establishment needs to understand. Palin is miles ahead of everyone else. Don’t get in her way.

[Tribune7]

ping

[palmer]

She’ll make a fine endorser-in-chief

[DM1]

Palin is definitely the rock star of the right no doubt about that
Romney can be helpful with money people and infrastructure but a Palin endorsement can get you instant name recognition, near instant “money bombs” for said individuals and get the talking heads discussing whoever was endorsed

[DTogo]

"If you ask who the most influential endorsers are, Palin is numbers one, two, and three, with maybe Sen. Jim DeMint at four."

The DeMintulans here won't like that.

[LibLieSlayer]

He talks one way campaigning but listen to him sub for Bill Bennett on Morning in America... he is no true Conservative.

LLS

[prisoner6]

Mama Grizzly pingers!

prisoner6

[HerrBlucher]

No she isn’t. When she resigned as governor her career and influence completely disintegrated and she went into obscurity just as the pundits said she would. She has no influence, no power, its over for Sarah../s

[Clyde5445]

Look what Sarah did in NM for Martinez. Martinez was second before the endorsement then after the endorsement Martinez open up a lead and won in a landslid. 50 to 28 in the primary.

[ZX12R]

No she isn’t. When she resigned as governor her career and influence completely disintegrated and she went into obscurity just as the pundits said she would. She has no influence, no power, its over for Sarah../s

LOL! Perfect.

[allmendream]

Mit's power to endorse a candidate is insignificant when compared to the power of the Palin.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Anyone who has been an "inside the Beltway Politician" is going to have a VERY hard time winning any kind of Republican consensus for 2012.

Anyone who's run for PRESIDENT in the past is going to have a VERY hard time winning any kind of Republican consensus for 2012.

WE THE PEOPLE will NOT allow anyone to choose our Presidential Candidate for us. No politician, no PAC, and not even Sarah Palin . . . however, her endorsement [or her candidacy] will carry more weight with us than anyone else.

[uncbob]

What about Romney, the man Santorum supported in the 2008 presidential campaign?

How the hell could he support that phony abortion gay loving Romney

[Lakeshark]

And it's really, really, really over for her.....according to the half dozen nasssty, unhappy ankle biters on FR.........now that Santorum let the cat out of the bag, after all, she's only the first three desired endorsements by all candidates......

[SueRae]

What they should be doing (and many are) is gathering around her and supporting/coaching/filling in the blanks. Not sniping (hear me Mitt?). If these leaders (and I think Santorum gets it) coalesce around her, she can refine some of her message. I am a huge supporter of Sarah Palin. When she speaks, I feel like I’m listening to one of my best friends. Her raw energy, ability to speak truth to power, fearlessness and candor are her strong suits when speaking. I find myself shouting “Hell-yeah!” many times over because she hits the nail on the head. But many times, she seems anxious in some interviews, air time..and her message is not always as complete or as clear as it could be. She’s got great ideas on many subjects, especially energy, and the experience to boot. But when reduced to soundbite interviews (like on O’Reilly the other night)her message did not come off as clear and complete as it could have been. Give her time. And I’m willing to wait for that. But she is going to need a team in order to be a team leader. Santorum would be an excellent coach/mentor and team member. So would Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindahl, Bill Bennett, etc. And I truly can’t wait for her to meet and spend some time with Margaret Thatcher.

And if she runs, she has my vote and support.

[shiva]

[Al B.]

It must have really pained NRO to publish Santorum’s comment about Mitt. LOL.

[dalebert]

is the country ready for Palin? Obama was a first. Will America except another first?