Rick Santorum: If I Win The Illinois Primary, I Win The Nomination

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/17/10737243-rick-santorum-if-i-win-the-illinois-primary-i-win-the-nomination ^ | Andrew Rafferty and Alex Moe

[Steelfish]

Rick Santorum: If I Win The Illinois Primary, I Win The Nomination

By Andrew Rafferty EFFINGHAM, Ill. -- Rick Santorum on Saturday guaranteed that a win in the Illinois primary will result in his nomination as the Republican presidential nominee.

"This is a primary, and turnout is everything. You do your job, you do your job, then this is the pledge," Santorum said. "If we're able to come out of Illinois with a huge or surprise win, I guarantee you, I guarantee you that we will win this nomination."

Illinois has largely been predicted to favor Mitt Romney for Tuesday's primary. The vote is expected to be driven by Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, pegged as unfavorable territory for the former Pennsylvania senator's brand of conservatism. But in areas like Effingham, hours south of the Windy City, Santorum hopes to fire up a Republican base that is often overshadowed by its Democratic counterparts to the north.

"You know you don't get a chance to out-vote your friends up in the Chicago-land area very often, but this is a primary and turnout is everything," he said, standing in a warehouse of a local business specializing in kitchen equipment. While stumping in the Land of Lincoln, Santorum said he feels like he's already running in the general election.

“People ask me why I’m the best candidate to run against Barack Obama," said Santorum. "It’s because I feel like, in many respects, I am running against Barack Obama here in this primary because Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama in this primary.”

The health care bill that Romney signed as governor of Massachusetts is the issue Santorum has been hammering him on most frequently. Santorum says the legislation laid the groundwork for the health care bill Obama signed in 2010....

[NavVet]

And if they vote for a flaming liberal like Romney, or a big government, global warming, Amnesty granting, Acorn endorsing, influence selling, ethically challenged, space mirror, serial adulterer like Newt, then it won’t matter if we win the election.

[Steelfish]

If Newt drops off, and he wins the big states like TX, PA, IL, and who knows even CA , he’ll get close to Romney’s tally. If Romney doesn’t win on the first ballot, the delegates are free to choose. The delegates in the states will vote with what their states’ conservative voters preferred. Santorum could then pull it off in a 2nd or 3rd round of balloting. I do now agree with brokered conventions but this is now becoming increasingly inevitable. If Santorum loses IL, I think the writing is on the wall. Mitt wins the nomination. Unfortunately, like what occurred in WA, MI, and OH, Gingrich may become the great spoiler again!

[Kickass Conservative]

Allow me to disagree. If Romney picks a Nominee that mirrors an Obama pick, Republicans will rise up and let him know, just as they did with Bush's Harriet Meyers choice.

Bush backed down, just like he did with his Amnesty idea because he felt pressure from the base, both Conservative and Moderate elements.

Obama would not look back. That is the difference. I will take a chance on Romney rather than having no chance at all with Obama. Obama’s second term would be a “nothing left to lose” term, not a “lame duck” term.

[SoConPubbie]

Is anybody even paying attention to Obama running roughshod over everything and ignoring congress and the people.

Is any of you ABO, default Romney supporters, really paying attention to the actual record of Mitt Romney?

Do any of you "Head-in-the-Sand" reflexive GOP voters, no matter how Progressive Liberal the candidate is, actually researching out the candidate you want us to vote for by twisting our arms and collective principles and morals?

With a record of nominating 75% Democrats and Hard Leftist judges.

With a record of supporting Gay Adoption.

With a record of implementing and supporting Gay Marriage.

With a record of supporting the Brady Bill and implementing a state-wide "Assault" Weapons Ban AFTER the federal AWB expired.

With a record of supporting Man-Made Global Warming and supporting an associated Cap-And-Trade system in Massachusetts.

With a record of implementing a Socialist Health Insurance Program called RomneyCare with $50 Abortions and an Individual Mandate.

With a record of supporting TARP

With a record of raising Taxes and Fees by 300% while Governor of MA.

With a record of supporting Amnesty for Illegal Aliens (Pathway to Citizenship).

Are you really going on record as calling those adamant or even hesitant for voting for such a Progressive Liberal idiots?

Even if the alternative is Obama?

At what point do you step back and say enough is enough?

Does the GOP Need to put up an actual avowed Communist before you pull your head out of the sand and wake up?

[SoConPubbie]

Obama would not look back. That is the difference. I will take a chance on Romney rather than having no chance at all with Obama. Obama’s second term would be a “nothing left to lose” term, not a “lame duck” term.

Romney's own record disputes your hope in him doing the right thing.

2/3rds or 75%, I forget which right now, of his nominees were Democrats, hard-left Democrats who couldn't give a flying leap about the constitution or anything else considered conservative in nature, and you state you hope he would listen to pressure from the base?

He's still lying about implementing Gay Marriage and supporting Gay Adoption while Governor of Massachusetts and you still want to HOPE that he would do the right thing?

[Kickass Conservative]

I am starting to think we are a minority here.

Cut your nose off to spite your face is becoming the norm.

I am nearly 59 years old, and I have never seen a threat to what I consider the American way of life until Obama came along.

I'm going with Mark Levin on this. I too would Vote for a can of Orange Juice over Obama.

[Antoninus]

Allow me to disagree. If Romney picks a Nominee that mirrors an Obama pick, Republicans will rise up and let him know, just as they did with Bush's Harriet Meyers choice.

Have you been watching the scorched-earth campaign Romney has been running against his Republican rivals? Do you think that's by accident? Romney destroyed the Republican party in Massachusetts and is doing the same kind of damage to the national party right now. He will nominate liberals and stick it in our face--or he will have no qualms about lying to us that his nominees are actually conservatives. The man is a born charlatan.

Or haven't you been paying attention?

[Theodore R.]

When Ronald W. Reagan came into his native IL to campaign in 1976, he said it would be a miracle if he got 40 percent over Gerald R. Ford in that liberal state. I think that is about what he got. The state is liberal, liberal, liberal, and we can’t put much hope in it. I think the key to Rick’s potential loss was his failure to get on the VA ballot. Having to forfeit ID and UT hurts too.

[SoConPubbie]

If Newt drops off, and he wins the big states like TX, PA, IL, and who knows even CA , he’ll get close to Romney’s tally. If Romney doesn’t win on the first ballot, the delegates are free to choose. The delegates in the states will vote with what their states’ conservative voters preferred. Santorum could then pull it off in a 2nd or 3rd round of balloting. I do now agree with brokered conventions but this is now becoming increasingly inevitable. If Santorum loses IL, I think the writing is on the wall. Mitt wins the nomination. Unfortunately, like what occurred in WA, MI, and OH, Gingrich may become the great spoiler again!

it's possible, however, I don't know how probable.

But there are a lot of conservatives who are put off and truned off by what they view as Rick's Sanctimonious behavior and attitude concerning social issues that it will take both Rick and Newt to capture as many as possible delegates from Mitt to force a brokered convention.

The goal now is to get to the Brokered Convention so that Mitt does not get the nomination.

For myself, I'd rather not risk Rick dropping out of the race somewhere down the line after Newt had dropped out.

As long as Newt is still in the race, Rick will stay in the race.

With both in the race, we get a brokered nomination, not so sure if Newt backs out.

With respect to your comment concerning Mitt winning the nomination if Rick loses IL, I believe it is almost statistically impossible for Mitt to win the nomination no matter the outcome of the IL primary.

THere are only 7 out of 26 primaries that are winner-take-all. Those 7 primaries only account for 189 delegates and I don't believe that Mitt will win all of the WTA primaries.

Mitt would have to win 46% of the remaining delegates to win the nomination outright.

As things have been going, there isn't a chance in hell that he can accomplish this.

[Antoninus]

Pinging the list to LovedSinner's post above (#59). Any Chicago-area FReepers who want to help are encouraged to do so.



Santorum for President ping. Let me know if you want on or off the list.

Like Rick on Face Book.

Top 10 Reasons why Conservatives should support Santorum

16 Reasons Why Mitt Romney Would Be a Really, Really Bad President

[Kickass Conservative]

As Governor of MA, Romney had no “base” to rise up and pressure him to seek out more Conservative Nominees. Republicans were outnumbered in the MA Legislature to the point of being reduced to background noise.

I am not defending Romney, just calling it like I see it. This “no difference” between Obama and Romney is ridiculous.

Obama is a Marxist version of a “sure thing”. A President Romney gives us at least a fighting chance to influence his Governing.

I will take a fighting chance with Romney over unconditional surrender to Obama any day of the week.

[aruanan]

Well, Rick is slightly off. He doesn't look closely enough at causes. The breakdown of the American family is not the principal cause of the undermining of this country. The principal cause of the undermining of the American family is also the principal cause of the undermining of this country and that's the metastatic growth of government at all levels.

[GraceG]

[ Obama would not look back. That is the difference. I will take a chance on Romney rather than having no chance at all with Obama. Obama’s second term would be a “nothing left to lose” term, not a “lame duck” term.

Romney’s own record disputes your hope in him doing the right thing.

2/3rds or 75%, I forget which right now, of his nominees were Democrats, hard-left Democrats who couldn’t give a flying leap about the constitution or anything else considered conservative in nature, and you state you hope he would listen to pressure from the base?

He’s still lying about implementing Gay Marriage and supporting Gay Adoption while Governor of Massachusetts and you still want to HOPE that he would do the right thing? ]

We are so screwed if Either Mittens gets in or Barry gets a second term.

Mittens would only slow things down and then in four years the GOP would be blamed so much but with little to show we would still be in an economic malaise the likes of Carter’s wet dreams. This would GUARANTEE a Democrat Victory over the house the senate and even the presidency in 2016. They would not be pulling any punches as they would run someone that would make Obama look like a middle of the road moderate. Because they know they would have a very good chance of winning. Not to mention the class warfare game that could be played to Bolshevik conclusion during that election if we get Romney and mediocre performance out of him which is very much likely.

Of course Obama winning would be a very much “nothing to lose” second term that would see him likely either completely destroying the economy so badly that they play the game of “Destroy and Support” in that they would destroy the economy and then support the people as the “great savior” thus ensuring either “Glorious Revolution” or the mass construction project of making millions more so dependent that they will have a permanent grip on power that would only come undone with Blood sweat and tears, but mostly Blood and Tears.

ABO and ABR, because we either need Newt or Santorum, hell I would take Ron Paul over Romney for the above reason above.

[Mariner]

"If Rick Santorum wins the nomination, the GOP is insane."

Nope. It the primary electorate that's crazy.

Turnout has been historically low as the bulk of the party is simply not interested in the primary.

Santorum's 40% Values Voters base and a 3 man race could be enough to get him a win in Tampa.

In the olden days values voters were about evenly split between the two parties. Now it seems they're all in for the GOP...as long as Santorum is the nominee.

If he is not, they're likely to stay home.

Idn't that just the damnedest thing?

[Kickass Conservative]

I have been paying attention, have you?

Obama is acting like Pharaoh and refusing to support ANYONE running against him will just make his Second Term a living hell.

As I said before I am no fan of Mittens, but IF it comes down to him and Obama, Obama must be defeated.

No need to reply. You are as firm in your position as I am.

[Theodore R.]

Quinn Hillyer is right in his analysis. Newt is potentially a greater threat to Santorum than Perot was to GHWB.

[SoConPubbie]

I will take a fighting chance with Romney over unconditional surrender to Obama any day of the week.

Besides the fact that Romney will get creamed by Obama in a general election match-up because he and the MSM will use Romneys Extreme Progressive Liberal record against him and slaughter him.

Besides that fact, you're still living in the land of HOPE and trusting that Romney will listen to pressure.

There is no fighting chance with Romney, only the facts of his Progressive Liberal Record and his continually lying about his record and his character assasination of his rivals for the GOP Presidential nomination.

You make Don Quixote look reasonable.

[Antoninus]

As I said before I am no fan of Mittens, but IF it comes down to him and Obama, Obama must be defeated.

Obama must be defeated. But 1.) Romney is such an awful candidate that he most likely won't beat him and 2.) A liberal Romney presidency will fail and will only lead to someone even worse than Obama in four years with an even bigger mandate than Obama had in 2008.

Romney vs. Obama is a lose-lose, so we must strive to make sure that devil's bargain never happens.

[Lazlo in PA]

Your “boy” died. Not electable. No one wants him. Just for that. let’s rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3zWSawJiw

“As long as they play our song...”