Posted on 01/02/2012 11:34:55 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The latest polls out of Iowa confirm two things as we head into the caucuses: Ron Paul has peaked, and his support is now on the downswing. And Rick Santorum is surging, going from single-digits to third place in a matter of days.
If the Des Moines Register survey holds true, Santorum may just be getting started:
The poll, conducted Tuesday through Friday, shows support at 24 percent for Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts; 22 percent for Paul, a Texas congressman; and 15 percent for the surging Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.
But the four-day results don’t reflect just how quickly momentum is shifting in a race that has remained highly fluid for months. If the final two days of polling are considered separately, Santorum rises to second place, with 21 percent, pushing Paul to third, at 18 percent. Romney remains the same, at 24 percent.
On its face, this would seem to make Santorum the latest of the “flavor of the month” candidates, following the rapid rise-and-fall of Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann. The difference is that Santorum may have more staying power than the others.
The previous not-Romney’s all looked fine from a distance, but withered under scrutiny. Santorum, in contrast, has grown more impressive as the race has progressed. Yes, he has plenty of his own flaws, and they shouldn’t be glossed over. But so far, his baggage doesn’t seem to be of the fatal sort. There’s no history of adultery, no sexual harassment charges, no problems with articulation, no shoot-from-the-hip attitude. Santorum’s debate performances have been excellent, and he’s shown a notable grasp of foreign policy issues. He also has impeccable social conservative credentials.
There are legitimate questions of electability; those can’t be diminished. Santorum is a bete noir to the left when it comes to social issues, which means that any imaginable glob of mud that can be chucked at him will be chucked – and that could make it very difficult for him to appeal to independent and centrist voters. That’s not to say that there aren’t certain positions conservatives must hold absolutely firm on, even if they enrage the left. But when considering whether to support Santorum, conservatives will need to decide whether opposition to gay marriage and birth control are issues they would risk dying on the hill for.
Will similar 5 words be used to describe him in OTHER STATES?
That is simple. He is a MORAL CONSERVATIVE!!!! I can’t tell you how exciting this primary is becoming. After the misery that I had to withstand for so long. FINALLY I am getting my 100 percent true principled CONSERVATIVE!!!!! 2012 is becoming a great year!!!!!
Does Rick support granting Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition?
Did Rick ever sign a bill giving state funding to Planned Parenthood?
Did Rick attempt to vaccinate 11 year old girls against a Sexually Transmitted Disease?
Did Rick advocate a bi-National Socialized Medicine for the US and Mexico?
Did Rick sign legislation to require school kids to be tested for steroids?
Did Rick sign legislation to use taxpayer dollars to pay for kid’s braces and provide rides to the dentist?
The answer to each question is Yes and No.
Rick Perry did each of the above.
Rick Santorum is opposed to each.
Now, who is the Real Conservative?
Rick Perry or Rick Santorum?
Which principal did he use when he was indorsing a candidate like spector?
Well you sure should use your spell check. I don’t blame him for endorsing who he did. Toomey has turned out to be a big government guy. His votes have not at all been 100 percent conservative. You should check out his record. At least he did not endorse scuzzynova in New York as another candidate did.....is that guy forgiven??????
our ticket will be romney/rick.....its time people start facing it...im not a big fan of romney but rick and getting rid of obama might make me pull the handle
"And while Rick Santorum is the latest in a long line of candidates to get a temporary surge, he has only begun to get vetted by the national media and his opponents. He will be constantly forced to defend his inexcusable addiction to earmarks including projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere". And no one has yet to scratch the surface on his unqualified support and endorsement of the liberal, pro-abortion former Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter over true conservative Pat Toomey in the 2004 GOP primary for U.S. Senate. Santorum’s support for Specter enabled Specter to win a narrow victory, by a bare 20,000 votes. Specter then provided the critical, 60th vote for the passage of Obamacare and Obama’s budget busting, Economic Stimulus package, which is ballooning our national debt. Please ponder this: if Specter had been defeated we never would have had Obamacare. "
That be baggage.
let’s not allow Iowa’s pot luck supper straw poll to pick our nominee.. it’s a horrible way to pick a candidate especially since Santorum has pretty much lived in Iowa for the past year...
...that’s like buying the first new(anti Romney)vehicle the salesman shows you and you jump on it, the next day you realize the mini van isn’t the vehicle you needed it was the powerful 4X4 truck to do the hauling work you had to do ..
wait until a real primary down in SC and then you’ll know..
it very well could be Santorum but there is also a good chance that Gingrich will start a roll against Romney here since according to the last polls he has a decent lead in SC and Santorum wasn’t on the radar screen
Rick Santorum has yet to be pummeled like Newt was. Even the media has for the most part left him alone. The only thing they seem to be reporting on is his surge. Maybe they figure he is weak and would be a good one to face their man Obama.
I did not expect to be talking about Rick Santorum at this stage.....what an amazing (pre) primary it has been.
He has no money and organization, And he isn’t polling well outside irrelevant Iowa.
His supporters are projecting some magical aura on him based not on charisma or performance but on the ability to regurgitate talking points.
“Ooooh he the dreamy true conservative I’ve been waiting for!”
All the while he still comes across as boring and uninspiring.
All it will take is a minimal hit by Romney and a few stories about some imperfect position and he will be done.
If he manages to get to the general, Obama will steamroll him through the press alone.
Best start thinking about supporting Newt soon, or you will have four more years of Obama or worse: President Romney
The surface hasn't been scratched on this one, it's been dug down to the bone by Santorum bashers. It hasn't hurt him because most of the conservatives trashing him for it are giving a free pass to a certain candidate who backed the even more liberal Dede Scozzafava. Apparently voters aren't buying their selective "outrage". Too bad.
On its face, this would seem to make Santorum the latest of the "flavor of the month" candidates... The previous not-Romneys all looked fine from a distance, but withered under scrutiny. Santorum, in contrast, has grown more impressive as the race has progressed. Yes, he has plenty of his own flaws, and they shouldn't be glossed over. But so far, his baggage doesn't seem to be of the fatal sort. There's no history of adultery, no sexual harassment charges, no problems with articulation, no shoot-from-the-hip attitude. Santorum's debate performances have been excellent, and he's shown a notable grasp of foreign policy issues. He also has impeccable social conservative credentials... when considering whether to support Santorum, conservatives will need to decide whether opposition to gay marriage and birth control are issues they would risk dying on the hill for.
The Santorum campaign will begin and end in Iowa, voting for Santorum is a deadend and once the debates start back up after Iowa, everyone will be reminded why he has been at 1% all year.
Go Newt!
When the dust settles after this basically insignificant distraction the real battle between Newt and Willard will resume.
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