This is actually a plus for Santorum. The election showed that Pennsylvania voters are loyal first and foremost to longtime Pennsylvanians. In that election between Casey, there were two and only two issues that were meaningful:
1. Bob Casey was the son of beloved former governor Robert Casey, Sr.
2. Rick Santorum doesn't even live in Pennsylvania, but is really from Virginia
In an election between Santorum and Obama, Pennsylvania voters will overwhelmingly choose Santorum.
And then there's Newton Leroy Gingrich who has never won statewide office in his life. People in glass houses . . .
Santorum won’t win PA.
However, why does everyone have memory loss when it comes to 2006.
Santorum lost in 2006 for the same reason all the other Republicans that year lost. Conservatives and Republicans in general decided not to show up at the polls and “teach” the GOP a lesson. Even though people like Santorum or George Allen didn’t cause the anger that resulted, they got caught up in it unfortunately when they were up for re-election. Santorum lost because of the boycott + he was running against a native son. That equates to an 18 point blowout that everyone wants to paint on Santorum as proof he isn’t viable. Like it was his fault the voters didn’t show up. He could have done everything right in 2006 and the mood of the conservative voters would have still screwed him.
People need to stop pretending 2006’s loss was due to something on the part of Santorum when it was clearly in fact not. Even George Allen, after being “macaca’ed” should have still won his race, but lost. 2006 was a boycott year.
You must be on the payroll to come out with such spin of Santorum's epic Senate loss. No, even they wouldn't make that leap.
You are so right. Pennsylvanians will vote for Santorum over Obama, especially western Pennsylvanians whom Obama called bitter people clinging to their guns and religion. Gingrich represented a solidly Republican district in Georgia. He never ran or won in a statewide election. Santorum did and beat incumbent Democrats including Harris Wofford, Clinton’s point man on healthcare who was backed in the election against Santorum by Paul Begala and James Carville.
Consider this about Gingrich: He is 68 years old. If he were elected, he would be 69 or 70 when he took office. He’s hardly what you’d call fit looking. He’s starting to look winded and tired in the campaign appearances I’ve seen covered on C-Span. If Gingrich supporters don’t think Democrats would make Gingrich’s age an issue in this election, they’re living in a dream world. Gingrich’s day has come and gone. He should have run for president years ago. He should move on and let younger candidates take over. Santorum is as well informed and smart and is good in debates. He has a law degree and an MBA. He can take on Obama and win. If he were getting half of the media attention that Huntsman has gotten, he’d be the well-known candidate challenging Romney. The fact that he’s done as well as he has with little money and hardly any media attention speaks volumes about his smarts and his ability to connect with people on the stump. Keep his candidacy going, South Carolina!