Next? Here comes Rick Santorum
With the exception of Mitt Romney the Republican primary season has been a roller coaster ride for many presidential hopefuls. Michele Bachman entered the race to high expectations and captured a win in the Iowa straw poll before falling into obscurity, Rick Perry also entered the race to high expectations before faltering in the debates and falling in the polls. Then came Herman Cain and after his fall along came New Gingrich; both enjoyed a short-lived surge to the top of the polls. With Newt Gingrich’s fall came the rise of Ron Paul and his support seems to be holding steady in second place and he most likely isn’t going to suffer a drop off.
But those who are unimpressed with the frontrunners are still looking for an alternative and now we seem to have another candidate who is beginning to surge in the polls, and that man is none other than a man who I truly like–Rick Santorum. The latest Iowa poll shows Rick Santorum in third place behind both Romney and Paul with 16% of the vote.
As I wrote about in this post, Rick Santorum began to gain momentum about a week ago–even though it hadn’t shown up in the polls–when Sarah Palin said that conservatives who were unsatisfied with the frontrunners would begin to look at Rick Santorum because he is the one man who has been “ideologically consistent” during his career. He has remained true to his beliefs and hasn’t changed his position due to any particular political climate.
Since that time Rick Santorum picked up the endorsements of a couple of social conservative leaders in the state of Iowa and most recently Mike Huckabee declared that Rick Santorum would be a surprise candidate in Iowa, and now he appears to be making a move in the polls as well. With less than one week before the Iowa caucus is this too little to late for Rick Santorum? It might be, but Newt Gingrich rise in Iowa was fast and if the caucus was held when Gingrich began his surge it is very likely that he would have won Iowa; this could be perfect timing for Rick Santorum if he has the momentum heading into next Tuesday.
If Rick Santorum has a good showing in Iowa this could provide him with some momentum heading into New Hampshire and this may help him to a good showing in New Hampshire as well. But the problem with Santorum is what happens next; he may be able to place well in South Carolina also but he has the same problem as Newt Gingrich and other Republican candidates–he simply doesn’t have the organization nationwide to mount a serious campaign. I suppose that could change as well if he does well in Iowa and New Hampshire but right now I still don’t see any other person having the organization or the support to beat the establishment’s choice, Mitt Romney, but it is beginning to get very interesting indeed.
America's Watchtower 
In the one debate I saw, I was most impressed with Huntsman–direct, to the point, sense of humor, and a keen mind for the real issues.
Why haven’t we ever heard any more about him?
Who decides this shit?
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Huntsman is not competing in Iowa, he is making his stand in New Hampshire and he is gaining a little ground. This will be his make or break state.
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I actually like Rick Santorum and wouldn’t have a problem voting for him. It’s good to see him rising in the polls, if for no other reason than to see him give the front runners the sweats.
One thing I would disagree with is Sarah Palin’s statement that Santorum is the one man who has been ideologically consistent. That’s not a knock on him, but Palin is incorrect. It can not be argued that Ron Paul is ideologically inconsistent.
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I agree with you there Larry, Ron Paul has also remained consistent, I think she was talking about the race being between Newt and Mitt in Iowa and saying it was not over despite what we are being told. I took her comment to be a shot at both Newt and Mitt because she was talking about a dark horse emerging from the pack and Paul was already rising in the polls.
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What Santorum lacks in a nationwide organization, we-the-people will have to carry for him! If we believe in what he represents, solid conservative values – both social and fiscal – then is it too much to ask that we help spread the word?
As far as Paul being consistent …. I have read a couple articles about him working both sides of issues until he sees it will pass then jump the fence and vote against it just for appearance sake. Still verifying this, but … He’s been around soooooo long! I do not trust ANY career politicians, no matter how I may agree with some of their stands.
Santorum has enough experience to not be a novice, yet not enough to be a lifer!
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We’ll have to see if he is able to gain momentum after Iowa, I am glad his campaign appears to be making some movement finally. As for Paul, I hadn’t heard that about him but I have heard that he is one of the biggest worst when it comes to earmark spending.
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I like Santorum, hopefully he will get a bounce out of Iowa and get some steam headed into New Hampshire. I would prefer him over Paul, Gingrich, and Romney for sure.
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I hope so also, I would take him over those three as well.
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