Santorum is nearly immune from attack on his weakest plank, his PERCEIVED Puritanical Religiosity, by any candidate in the GOP. At least 30% of the GOP primary electorate are values voters first, everything else after that.
Romney and Gingrich have only the "big government" angle, one which I suspect they will employ to some effect.
But not decisive.
But, just wait until September. The left has no such constraint and will do everything in their power to ridicule Santorum...and generate fear of "Theocracy" should he be elected.
It will be a very effective attack and I suspect Obama will win 58% of the vote against him.
You're presuming that the majority of Americans oppose values and are stupid enough to think that Santorum would really impose a 'theocracy' (like JFK did? Remember that threat?)
Obama's attack on the freedom of religion and war against the Catholic church isn't sitting well with a lot of Americans, and many of them are blue collar Dems.
Don't be pessimistic about the perception. I don't think the obvious smear will work.
It will be a very effective attack and I suspect Obama will win 58% of the vote against him...
...yes...a Santorum candidacy will result in an Obama landslide...I can only hope the Catholic vote dips under 50% for Zero, if not, then this is an indictment of major proportions on the efficacy of the modern Church in conveying the Deposit of Faith to the flock...if the vote is north of 50%, I forthwith seek the nearest SSPX chapel and thumb my nose at AmChurch...