Stakes Rise for Santorum

FOX News ^ | 01-05-12 | Chris Stirewalt

[Lazlo in PA]

“This is not a time for us to shrink. This is a time for us to have bold colors, not pale pastels.”

-- Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum campaigning at the Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood, N.H.

It doesn’t look like Mitt Romney could lose New Hampshire, but then again, he can’t really win it either.

Even a 20-point landslide by Romney in New Hampshire would be instantly discounted as merely meeting expectations for the former governor of the neighboring state who keeps a summer home there.

The only way Romney could make news in New Hampshire would be if he ends up in a squeaker. Romney, having skated to a narrow victory in Iowa, would then be seen as hugely vulnerable. The stakes are high, but the risks of such an embarrassment look low.

For Iowa runner up, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, though, both the stakes and the risks are very high. Little-known Santorum needs a boost in New Hampshire to establish himself as the “Not Romney” in the race.

But just as he will be competing with well-known southerners Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry (who opted to reassess his reassessment of his candidacy and press on) for votes in South Carolina, Santorum must deal with former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Texas Rep. Ron Paul in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire is a semi-open primary and the libertarian Paul and Obama appointee Huntsman may draw a large number of independents and liberals into the primary pool. We saw this with Paul’s independent appeal in Iowa, but it could be even more significant in New Hampshire where Huntsman has been doing what Santorum did in Iowa – claiming squatter’s rights.

[Lazlo in PA]

If Santorum pushes Mittens into a tight race in NH, it will really send shock waves through the Rove types in DC. After seeing Rasmussen today where Santorum is at 21% to Romney's 29% nationally, it could happen. Go Rick.

[Lazlo in PA]

Santorum Ping

Santorum for President Ping List. FReepmail “Antoninus” to be added or removed.

BTW, Carl Cameron on FOX News just said Rick had another 1 Million dollar day. I hope he can keep that up.

[tennmountainman]

It will send shock waves to NewtBots here, as well.
I don’t think he will come in 1st or 2nd in NH, but I now believe he will place ahead of Nasty Newt in NH.

[show]

Jim Robinson recently posted an article where he is requesting the following:

I'd suggest that we all stop trying to tear down the other conservative candidates in the race and instead concentrate on trying to build up our own personal favorites...So let's compare their records and their actual conservative accomplishments but not try to destroy them personally.

So lay off calling us Newtbots and calling him nasty. Jim's request.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2829090/posts?page=151

[skeeter]

If the race comes down to Newt & Santorum there’s no losing, IMO. I’ll take either one of em.

[tennmountainman]

Let me make a prediction to you without name calling the person you support.

Santorum will finish ahead of Newt in NH.
Newts negative ads will backfire in NH and as the primary
moves south, Santorum will gain the BIG MO.

BTW, I read Jim’s post and he said he could support Santorum. as well. Now is that better?

[CPT Clay]

Rick had another 1 Million dollar day.

That’s 2 in a row?

[littleharbour]

Perry should pull out now and throw his support behind Santorum while Santorum has the momentum. If Santorum does well in NH, Gingrich should do the same before SC.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Lazlo in PA.

[CainConservative]

Hey, you turned civil. Way to go! : )

[show]

Better, but not accurate regarding South Carolina (Georgia East), imo.

But yes, better in that you are more respectful of those of us who support Newt and you omitted the labels. ‘Preciate Ya.

Go Newt!

[tennmountainman]

Glad u approve.

BTW, I read your comment about Perry being in the race in SC.

Did you read Jim’s post about it’s time to pick a conservative to support. Your support of Perry’s continued participation only benefits Romney by splitting the conservative vote.

I suggest u go read Jim’s post.

[Carry_Okie]

But just as he will be competing with well-known southerners Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry (who opted to reassess his reassessment of his candidacy and press on) for votes in South Carolina, Santorum must deal with former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Texas Rep. Ron Paul in New Hampshire.

The author is an idiot. Huntsman pulls from Romney, not Santorum. Paulisas are an isolate, not subject to persuasion. If anything, Santorum needs a broader and deeper array of original proposals of his own to acquire support from Gingrich, Romney, and Perry supporters.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, fellow older timers:

• Eugene McCarthy

  McCarthy's first presidential campaign test was in New Hampshire. That state's primary would be March 12. Initial signs were discouraging. Few voters knew who Eugene McCarthy was. His New Hampshire campaign started with $400 in the bank... Inspired by McCarthy's anti-war talk, volunteers poured into New Hampshire... To keep from alienating the generally conservative voters of New Hampshire, volunteers with unruly hair or beards were encouraged to find a barber. The motto: "Get clean for Gene." ...Paul Newman flew in to campaign on Main Street in Nashua, N.H. Actors Tony Randall and Rod Serling made radio ads for McCarthy... Science fiction writer Arthur Herzog... helped run McCarthy's campaign in the southern New Hampshire town of Salem... "We couldn't find anybody who liked McCarthy or even knew who he was," ... On January 30, 1968... the Tet Offensive... On March 12, 1968... 42 percent for McCarthy and 49 percent for LBJ... Political analysts would decide that voters in New Hampshire disliked Johnson more than they loved McCarthy.

Gene lost supporters to RFK; a bit later in 1968, RFK lost his life; by convention time, the ridiculous, and irreparably tainted VP, Humphrey had the nomination, and lost the general by a squeaker to Richard Nixon.

[show]

Disagree. Perry is there to bash Romney and Paul in that order. Perry has already paid for Air time to bash Romney in South Carolina. He is there in the short run to bash Romney and Paul.

Would imagine that he will bow out after South Carolina after bashing Romney with his unique Texas Style. And then go back to Governing the most prosperous State of the Union.

[no dems]

Santorum must deal with former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Texas Rep. Ron Paul in New Hampshire
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Well, screw Ron Paul and his lunatic Paul-bots. As far as Huntsman; he will pull votes from Romney. They’re both RINOs.

[tennmountainman]

Did you read Jim’s Post?

BTW, Welcome To FR. Noticed u signed up December of 2011.

[no dems]

I agree with Jim. But, is it too late? Check out this thread

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2829131/posts

[no dems]

Rick had another 1 Million dollar day.
____________________________________________________________
Shoot; that’s more than I make in an entire week.

[Lazlo in PA]

2 days in a row of a million dollars. Ex Gov Sanford said it takes about $300K a week to saturate the media market in SC for a week. If Rick can have a few more of these days, he will have more than enough to compete in the upcoming battle states.