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Obama Campaign Weighs Santorum
WSJ ^ | FEBRUARY 17, 2012 | PETER NICHOLAS

Posted on 02/17/2012 6:37:37 AM PST by throwback

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has begun discussing whether to attack Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum and try to define him for a general-election audience, potentially breaking from its focus on Mitt Romney.

Obama campaign aides are stepping up their examination of Mr. Santorum's record to assess his vulnerabilities and consider how their strategy might change if he becomes the GOP nominee.

For example, the Obama campaign has criticized Mr. Romney for shifting his policy stances and painted him as out of touch with middle-class Americans. That line of attack might not prove as effective against Mr. Santorum, who Obama advisers believe has gained ground in the nominating contest by looking more genuine and empathic to voters than Mr. Romney.

On Thursday, the campaign's Pennsylvania office sent an email to supporters in the state inviting them to share "recollections'' of Mr. Santorum's record as a senator from the state. The email said his "extreme-right social views are as out of touch as they are memorable.''...

But after Mr. Santorum's surprise victory in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota last week, Obama campaign aides have been rethinking whether a Romney-centric approach still makes sense, campaign advisers said Thursday.

While other Republicans, notably Newt Gingrich, have risen to challenge Mr. Romney in recent months, Mr. Santorum looks to be a candidate whose appeal isn't about to fade, they said.

Mr. Santorum "doesn't come with the type of political baggage that Gingrich had,'' said one Obama adviser. "He has the ability to go farther and is much more likely to be a potential nominee.'' Directing attacks against Mr. Santorum is "under discussion at the headquarters'' in Chicago, he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obama; santorum
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To: Joe 6-pack
RE :”Why would Rick want to take away peoples’ Birth Certificates? I'll bet he couldn't even find some of them....

So they cant run for POTUS?? Oh no thats right, they can just make up a new online easily if they want to run like U-know-who did :)

21 posted on 02/17/2012 7:23:16 AM PST by sickoflibs (You MUST support the lesser of two RINOs or we all die!)
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To: Scotswife
That would be your philosophy madam, not mine. I don't order off anybody’s menu. I grow most of my own food, and I hunt and fish for the rest, or I have a farmer grow a beef cow to my liking.

As far as reelecting more of the same kind of politician that makes big promises to get elected, and tells you what you want to hear so you will say; “Good enough for me!”

I keep my distance and see them for what they are.

22 posted on 02/17/2012 7:24:01 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
The way I read it, the school was on-line, and the per pupil cost was actually lower than what most districts pay to have a student go to a brik-and-mortar building. Doesn't sound like some preppy, elite school. I don't think he “forced” them to pay other than he was a taxpayer in the area with property and so was entitled to whatever educational opportunities are available to any other taxpayer.
23 posted on 02/17/2012 7:29:17 AM PST by throwback ( The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid)
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To: Scotswife
I don’t know what teachers you are thinking of....

I'm a former teacher, high school and college level. And I've been around my share of ultra-lib teachers. I really don't think they care where Santorum sends his own kids for an education.

Now, if Santorum came out strongly for school vouchers, which I think he would do, that would be an issue. But it would be a second-tier issue. The union leadership's heads would explode (as you said), but not so for the rank-and-file.

I really think the average teacher is more worried about things that have an immediate impact on them. Things like the price of gasoline, taxes, and why their college-graduate children cannot find work.

24 posted on 02/17/2012 7:29:59 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I carrying this lantern? you ask. I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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25 posted on 02/17/2012 7:33:35 AM PST by deoetdoctrinae (Gun-free zones are playgrounds for felons)
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To: Red Badger
ready to start a war with the first dictator that pops up............

Not counting the one already in the White House, yes?

26 posted on 02/17/2012 7:35:02 AM PST by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: Leaning Right

First, only the DUmocrat sheep would buy that, but it only empowers Santorum’s message. Abortion should not be used as a form of contraception. Abstinence....preventative for pregnancy and STDs - works 100% every time it is utilized...and best of all, IT’S FREE.


27 posted on 02/17/2012 7:41:27 AM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Daffynition

28 posted on 02/17/2012 7:45:27 AM PST by ScottinVA (GOP, meet Courage... Courage, meet GOP.)
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To: skeeter

It’s already started. Leno spent 3 minutes of his monologue making jokes about his stand on contraceptives and gays. It will be so easy to turn Rick into a prissy, self righteous, puritan that wants to take us back to the dark ages of pre- Griswold and Roe. Whether out off context or not he has supplied enough ammo in his book and interviews over the years for 3 campaigns. The campaign won’ t be about OBama, it will be about Santorum’ s “ out of the mainstream, ultra right views” on social issues. You can kiss off the 18-35 y/o female, and independent suburban vote.


29 posted on 02/17/2012 7:48:48 AM PST by redangus
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To: RasterMaster
I don't know why some of us are obsessively worried about what will push the leftwingers' buttons.

The only voters we should focus on are the undecideds, and I think they're fine with home schooling, religious freedom from government interference, etc.

30 posted on 02/17/2012 7:49:08 AM PST by skeeter
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To: redangus
Which of our remaining candidates won't the usual gang of leftwing idiots make fun of? The trust fund baby? The thrice divorced gingrich who stole christmas?

Its not as if Santorum will not have an opportunity to answer those ridiculous charges. It can be done and people are still by & large reasonable.

My advise - stop worrying about what the media will say about the republican candidate.

31 posted on 02/17/2012 7:54:24 AM PST by skeeter
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To: redangus

Too bad you let some bloated has-been comedian or the DNC media choose your candidate. They want Romney so that they can suppress GOP turnout, it’s simple as that.


32 posted on 02/17/2012 7:58:43 AM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

You may be one of the few, unfortunately. Something larger is probably playing out here that most will miss.


33 posted on 02/17/2012 8:02:03 AM PST by throwback ( The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid)
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To: ScottinVA; sima_yi

34 posted on 02/17/2012 8:05:13 AM PST by Daffynition (Our forefathers would be shooting by now.)
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To: redangus
I've tuned in Leno 4 or 5 times in the last few months. He's an arm of the Democrat party. He jams the Republican candidates relentlessly. He cracks on Obama rarely if ever. When he does, his audience barely laughs. Leno will drive off whoever he can regardless of candidate. They will hate Santorum because of his convictions, and anyone else because of their lack of convictions.
35 posted on 02/17/2012 8:15:14 AM PST by throwback ( The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid)
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To: Scotswife

There isn’t much that counteracts mocking.

Santorum should alternate between the two things that work:

1. Mocking back - Obama is a rich target. Do not be afraid to mock him because his skin is tan.

2. Point out obama’s attempt to use mocking, and explain the Alinsky strategy and who Alinsky was, and show examples of Obama using this strategy. Talk about how mocking is all the left has, and how they use comedians as their media court jesters to do their work for them rather than accurately informing and representing the American people.


36 posted on 02/17/2012 8:17:13 AM PST by Yaelle (Go Santorum!)
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To: Red Badger

He will be painted as an extreme right-winger, wanting women to be barefoot and pregnant, wanting to outlaw contraception and abortion, and ready to start a war with the first dictator that pops up............


And it will backfire on them. His personal views are not half as extreme as obama’s, who is mentioned as a fellow traveler in many commie articles. Far right still = American. Far left like Obama = enemy of America.


37 posted on 02/17/2012 8:23:32 AM PST by Yaelle (Go Santorum!)
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To: Scotswife
and he’s going to have to drop the nice guy act

It's not an 'act'.

38 posted on 02/17/2012 8:29:54 AM PST by tbpiper
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To: redangus

Leno spent 3 minutes of his monologue making jokes about his stand on contraceptives and gays. It will be so easy to turn Rick into a prissy, self righteous, puritan that wants to take us back to the dark ages of pre- Griswold and Roe.


Easy to counteract. It is not true. Every president has had his one beliefs that he lives by. He doesn’t force the country to live according to his personal lifestyle. Or else all of you men would be sneaking in boy toys during your free time.


39 posted on 02/17/2012 8:52:19 AM PST by Yaelle (Go Santorum!)
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To: tbpiper

you’re right.
That didn’t come out right.

Either way...he isn’t going to win this by being nice.


40 posted on 02/17/2012 8:58:59 AM PST by Scotswife
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