Santorum Denounces Gingrich as ‘Very High-Risk Candidate’

Romney has a fair chance in the general election. Some Republicans will vote for him just because he’s a Republican. Some Democrats and left leaning independents will vote for him as an alternative to Obama. There isn’t much difference. …. Gingrich has a slightly less chance because few Democrats will vote for him but he may get a bigger margin of the independents. ….. Santorum is too far to the right to get any Democrats and few independents. Paul doesn’t have much chance because few people actually read a candidates platform and the media hates him. Those of us in the middle who are smart enough to read would pick Paul. Gingrich second. Romney is too far to the left, Santorum too far to the right. For the first time in my adult life I might not vote.

I don’t think Newt will become the nominee as there is no way on the planet that Obama walks away from a debate with Newt. It can’t be done. Even if Obama brings a teleprompter to the debates, I just don’t see him doing well at all. That is an embarrassment that just might be too hard to watch.

It is ironic that conservative Republicans consider that to allow committed gays to marry, is a threat to marriage, but they will vote for New Gingrich.

Santorum is annoying.

At least Santorum and I agree on one thing. Of course, I apply the same sentiment toward him( and most of the rest), as well. I still wish Huntsman has been run through the vetting grinder to see what came out. So far, what has come out from the other candidates could clog a sewer.

Boy, when SANTORUM calls you a risky candidate…lol.

Look, the ONLY candidate in this field who has a CHANCE of beating Obama is Romney. And given the current far-Right backlash against him, his chances aren’t that good.

But MOST Republicans aren’t far-Right, any more than most Democrats are far-Left, and are alienated by religious and/or political extremists like Gingrich, Santorum, and Paul (who isn’t even a Republican, but a radical Libertarian). Only a moderate (or someone who can be packaged as such) will have the broad appeal required in a national race.

As a progressive Independent for Obama (a moderate) I would LOVE to see Gingrich or Paul or Santorum as the nominee, but that isn’t going to be allowed to happen. The GOP leadership has picked Romney (even the Obama team has known it for months; why he’s been the focus of their campaign so far…not because they are SCARED of him, but because devoting resources to anyone other than the presumed candidate is unnecessary.)

Now, I could be wrong (and I HOPE so, I really do!) But I don’t think so. According to reliable reports, GOP insiders at the national level have been privately calling Gingrich a spoiler and his possible candidacy a “train wreck” for months. They will do everything in their considerable power to stop him.

Interestingly, however, according to other reliable reports, many state and local GOP candidates have expressed their support for a Gingrich candidancy, on the rationale that he, being more extreme, would bring out the far-Right vote and fire up the electorate (benefitting THEM in their local races) more than Romney. They seem relatively unconcerned that he would very likely cost their party the White House; he would help THEM, and they seem to see that as an acceptable trade-off. Or maybe they have just accepted that NO candidate has much of a chance against Obama in 2012 and so are looking for a way to salvage the election by taking as many Congressional seats and state/local offices as possible. ?

OONOGIL7:”Paul doesn’t have much chance because few people actually read a candidates platform and the media hates him. Those of us in the middle who are smart enough to read would pick Paul. ”

I disagree. Paull doesn’t have a chance because he is a radical extremist Libertarian who would largely dismantle the federal government.

I’ve READ his platform, btw. And when Republicans are polled on specifics of that platform, a solid majority reject his positions. Positions such as eliminating Social Security and Medicare (which over 80% of all Americans, regardless of political orientation, oppose changing, much less say eliminating); getting rid of the IRS, FDA, EPA, the Dept. of Education, and other agencies which a majority of Americans recognize serve vital and Constitutional functions; and his isolationist foreign policy, esp. as regards Israel (a HUGE sticking point with many on the Right).

He is unelectable, and those who ARE, actually, “in the middle” and who have READ his platform and studied his positions would NEVER vote for him. Those on the Left might like his “anti-war” stance, but if they bother to read or investigate further, THEY would never vote for him (staunchly anti-choice, pro total deregulation, etc..)

What’s news about a candidate saying something bad about his opposition?

That’s the pot calling the kettle black!!

Obama should not be the issue either…the issues should be the issues. The problem is all the Republicans except Ron Paul have essentially the same planks and those are many of the same planks Obama has. Politicians are going to work for whomever gets them elected…it is interesting that Romney and Obama are both majority backed by the same banking interests (Goldman Sachs). What difference then can we expect between the Republican and Democrat “establishment” candidates, other than rhetoric?

In my opinion, the failing economy, our increasing debt, and the decay of our social liberties are the only issues. The only trustworthy candidate offering real solutions, Ron Paul 2012.

Get the hell out of the way, Santorium. You are acting as though you are a democrat-party Mole and you are diminishing the chance of a having a republican President and a republican takeover.

What you are doing now will not be forgotten in the future.

My prediction?

Santorum eventually drops out and, despite being a bit of a self-righteous blowhard, supports Romney with strongly worded conviction as he knows what an utterly fraudulent conservative and despicable narcissist Gingrich is.

There’s a brokered convention and/or behind the scenes dealmaking between Romney and Paul to secure Paul’s support of Romney in the general, with assurances on the abolishment of some government agencies, foreign policy restrictions, or a Fed audit.

If Romney makes it that far he’s got a 50/50 against Obama. It could be that he needs to get to the general to come into his own and not have to deal with inter-party attacks, but he’ll need to show some conviction and teeth and not this analytic deliberation where he has an internal dialogue on the debate stage falling back on prepackaged soundbites.

Republican primary voters vote for self-assurance and strength, not for ideas or experience or even conservativism, sadly.

Ron Paul is the only candidate who opposes the racist and corrupt War on Drugs that has cost taxpayers many billions of dollars. He is the only one fighting states rights and personal liberty.

Ron Paul is the ONLY vote that can beat Obama, pulling votes from the many dissatisfied Democrats who see Obama’s failure, the growing Independent population, and a growing portion of the Republicans who want real change. A vote for Ron Paul is the ONLY vote for peace, prosperity and liberty!

The whole campaign system ought to be changed. Candidates should be allowed to ONLY run on their own merits, NO trash-talk about others. A limit on campaign spending should be in place so that the ordinary citizen with solid ideas and leadership skills can also afford to run for office.

I have to say, between Gingrich’s demonstrated personal character failures and Romney’s demeanor which bespeaks a certain ability for ruthlessness underneath his plastered-on smile, I’m liking Santorum more and more. He comes across as real and sincere and as a decent human being. Unfortunately he doesn’t necessarily stand for the same things I do. So I’m still at square one, trying to decide which candidate would be best for the job. No different than last time around, sad to say.