Santorum's been getting his message out quite well in any number of states where he's been outspent 10+ to 1 and he's still picked up primary and caucus victories. I would argue that with the exceptions of SC and GA, Rick's message has been more clearly communicated than Newt's, and I would go so far as to wager that if the SC primary was being held again, Rick would probably pick that up as well.
If that were true we wouldn’t be having this discussion. Right now he’s the “default” unvetted candidate. That’s exactly what the media is doing now. Vetting isn’t just about issues but one’s ability to handle different situations. The press sets the narrative or the candidate does, period. Our candidates have to better and stronger than the media, that’s a given. If he can’t even beat the press at their own game what’s he going to do when the 3:00 am phone call comes in.
I have a son deploying in a few months, if he can’t stand up to the press and keep them from setting the agenda how will he be able to stand up to Karazai, the UN, the press, the left, etc. when the situation is as tense as it is right now? You can consider me selfish if you want, but I’m not the only military parent who is a bit more concerned about Afghan policy than obscenity laws. I’m more concerned about his energy plan (so my son might not have to go on yet another deployment) than whether someone is watching Internet porn.
I want to hear him talk TO THE PRESS, THE SAME NATIONAL PRESS THAT’S MAKING THIS A NATIONAL STORY about dismantling 0bamacare, whether he’s for a flat tax, what, if any, over bloated government agency would he get rid of. He may be getting his message out in the small venues he’s speaking in but while he’s doing that the national media is giving the rest of the country their first impression of him.
If he can’t keep from getting stuck on this issue how will he handle it when they really start in on him if he’s the nominee? Honestly, while most of America has a moral backbone they’re also thinking “why is he talking about this instead of the economy?” It’s a given the press is going to hit him with this, it’s his job to be sharp enough to turn this opportunity WHEN HE HAS THE EAR OF THE NATIONAL PRESS into a way to get his bread and butter issues out to the people NOT attending a rally in Illinois or Ohio or Alabama.
Cindie