Rick Santorum, Frontrunner?
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Could Rick Santorum now be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination?
Maybe. Two new national polls out today suggest Santorum is a candidate on fire, soaring to the top of the Republican race and now in a statistical tie with Mitt Romney for the lead.
First, a poll by the Pew Research Center:
Santorum 30
Rommey 28
Newt Gingrich 17
Ron Paul 12
Second, Gallup’s latest national poll:
Romney 32
Santorum 30
Gingrich 16
Paul 8
What is significant here is Santorum’s momentum. He is surging nationally (up 14 points in seven days in one poll) just as the primary battle is about to become more of a national race with 18 states holding primaries or caucuses over the next month.
I would argue that these two new polls tell us more about the direction of this race than Romney’s 194-vote victory over Ron Paul this weekend in the Maine caucuses.
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One of the things about Santorum that I don’t like is his apparent problem with separating church from state.
Posted by: john locke | February 13, 2012, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
As a non-religious member of the GOP, Santorum is a scary thought. He won’t have a chance with the moderates and independents. I am voting for Romney. I trust his integrity and economic ability. He knows how to help encourage business growth and prosperity. I hear attacks on his integrity, with no fact to back it up. He has lived a pretty clean life and I have been watching for many years. He understands the economy and how to fix the mess we are in. I notice that a lot of people who blog would never hire a rich person…it is an automatic disqualification; they prefer an inexperienced person who has never even run a lemonade stand to fix this huge economy. According to the stats, we are now over 15 trillion in dept and borrowing over 10 million a day. Don’t they understand that when the well runs dry there will be no one to bail us out? Greece is just a small microcosm of what is in store for us. I checked the government’s own web site and found that Bush increased spending 3,478 trillion in 8 years. In Obama’s 4 years, spending increased a whopping 5.993 trillion and he did not have to contend with 911 or Katrina. The graph on the page shows it even more blatantly. We are still over 8 percent unemployed and it over 11 percent in my area.
Posted by: Mrs D | February 13, 2012, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
I take it y’all have googled ‘Santorum’? If not give it a go. Man but that must make him mad.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | February 13, 2012, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Hey all you Republicans, Do you really want Santorum in you bedrooms?
Posted by: Lar S | February 13, 2012, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
MRS D: Greece? The poorest of the eurozone countries. How can you compare America to Greece? A more realistic comparison would be with France or Germany, both of which are doing reasonably OK in hard times. The major problem they have is being shackled to Greece by the nonsense that is the euro. Or the UK. Like the US we aren’t in the euro and are making a good fist of coming out of this depression. As is the US. Times are hard but it’s nowhere near as bad as so many of you seem to need to believe. Cheer up. And always look on the bright side of life.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | February 13, 2012, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
I have had quite enough of religious fanatics in positions of power telling me, and my daughters, what they can (and cannot) do with their reproductive rights. Enough! I travel the world, and others countries are wondering what in the world is going on by reading and listening to these sound bites regarding a race to become president. They are frightened, really frightened, that any of these guys could possible win.
Posted by: sarah | February 13, 2012, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
Let’s look on the bright side. If Santorum gets the nomination, he will lose so spectacularly to Obama that it will finally impress upon the Republican establishment that an evangelical, right-wing Christian will never be a viable candidate for president. As a Christian and a moderate who is socially liberal (pro-gay rights and pro-choice) and fiscally conservative (low taxes and less government), I would love to see the Republican Party jettison the Christian right. The Christian right only drags the party down and keep millions of moderate voters like me from considering the Republicans to be the best choice.
Posted by: Alwaystheoptimist | February 13, 2012, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
When this all began, the GOP had two potentially semi-sane candidates running. Santorum (and Gringrich) were not them. As far as I’m concerned Santorum is padded room material.
Posted by: whatever | February 13, 2012, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
As I just blogged on another thread on this subject: for two years (almost) I have said that there is a ‘faylt line’ that is running in the GOP Party that will end up tearing their Party apart. And along comes Santorum with the momentum and obvious backing of religious/social conservatives. I would say there is a better chance than not…that my ‘prophecy’ is going to be true.
Posted by: CND FOX | February 13, 2012, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
If Rick is truly the current frontrunner, than it’s a very sad day for the GOP. First, it means that the party faithful have gone off the deep end of religious extremism and intolerance. Second, it means Obama will win in November.
Posted by: Don | February 13, 2012, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
A Vote for Santorum or Gingrich is a Vote for Obama.
Posted by: Ron | February 13, 2012, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
I love these liberal idiots who speak about separation like they bothered to study the issue at all. They know nothing about Fisher Ames or Jefferson’s letters. You’re all ignorant of our Christian heritage. Just because you hate God and his son doesn’t mean our history wasn’t as it was recorded. Freedom OF religion. Not freedom FROM religion. BIG difference. Do some reading, loser.
Posted by: s | February 13, 2012, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
A vote for Obama is a vote for end of the U.S. as we know it. Look at Greece. How do you think all these entitlement folk will act up when the real cuts finally come to U.S. entitlements? Scary.
Posted by: s | February 13, 2012, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
Yes, please look at Greece — we’re nothing like Greece. And here, the group receiving the most “entitlements” are the upper 1%. Most of the rest of us are working our a$$es off for decades and going nowhere. And praying isn’t helping our country as it focuses on all of the wrong things….
Posted by: Z | February 13, 2012, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
You would think the media would being to vet the former senator before I vote here in Michigan..
Those campaign ads are too confusing..
Posted by: Annie | February 13, 2012, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
ABC has definitely been hit by Santorum/Huckabee’s press secretary. The spin is nauseating! Voting against Romney will mean Obama wins again— Santorum is even weaker than McCain! Romney has the education, the experience, the faith, and the know-how to save our country from the mess it’s in! BELIEVE IN AMERICA and give Romney a chance this time around!
Posted by: 4TrueNews | February 13, 2012, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
Mrs D, how about President Bush. Was he inexperience. He was a Governor. He came to the white house with all the surplus in the economy and left with a collapsing country –jobs, housing, financial and all and all the deficit the country is stiil fighting today. What do you say on this.
Posted by: Mosoes | February 13, 2012, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Sanatorium is a politician’s politician — the Pennsylvsnia Progressive. He endorsed the liberal Arlen Specter then like a typical Washington politician explains his actions away with excuses. Santorum is no doubt a social conservative. But that is only one leg of a three-legged stool. He is not a true fiscal conservative, voting to keep Amtrak. Again like a typical Washington politician explains his liberal vote away. Santorum is a man of excuses. “I did not perform well in Florida” because Romney had money. Well, another Rick had $15 million and does not have a single delegate to show for it. Another Santorum excuse “I did not compete in Maine” to dismiss why he came in third. You are right you do not compete. Romney does in every state. You say you are not running a negative campaign, but you name call Romney as “desperate” and “flailing” and accuse him of buying CPAC delegates. Mr. Santorum I do not see your great wins– your hair win in Iowa, an evangelical state you spent more time than anyone else and where a Mormon candidate was not expected to do as well as he did. Your great Missouri win of 138,987 votes was less than Mitt Romney’s 2008 third place win in Missouri with 172,329. You must not generate very much enthusiasm. Your Minnesota win was less than Romney’s total on 2008. He received 25,990 votes in 2008. You received only 21,932 votes which was less than McCain and Huckabee’s votes. I find your acceptance of religious bigotry to win votes among the evangelicals very disturbing. Closed door strategy sessions against Romney in Texas and compromising yourself as a Presidential candidate by the “laying on of hands” as an endorsement against Romney which to me violates separation of church and state. Jesus said one should do not do their prayers and fasting and alms to be seen of men, for they have their reward. I respect you as a family man like I do Romney. I appreciate Ann Romney’s being an active part of Governor Romney’s campaign in addition to being a mother and grandmother.
Posted by: Texasman | February 13, 2012, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
Why exactly all the vitriol for Rick Santorum? What I’ve read and heard so far has been good, but I find what people write to be pretty distorted. He’s not an evangelical for instance, he’s a catholic. He’s very consistent with his message, rather than being a flip flopper. And attacking him because he has family, moral, and religious values? Values ARE important. They are the frame of reference, an anchor, and a compass. And the means does not justify the ends. We DO need a values from the top down. I agree with him on seriously cutting spending, cutting rediculous tax and regulations on business, energy independence, the end of Obamney Care, and …pretty much everything else I’ve heard from him. I’m not against contraception! But at least he stands by his principles.
…As for the other candidates, I think that Romney’s business suit is his best suit but is a moderate flip flopper. I think Newt is an eccentric genius whose chauvinism will be his undoing. Ron Paul is solid in his beliefs, which is in itself admirable, but he believes way too much in social laissez faire, though I stand firmly with him against wasteful military actions abroad.
…I think most of the comments here reflect nonconservatives, who wouldn’t be caught dead at a tea party, probably don’t attend church, and probably think the economy is the biggest issue. If even the last one is true of you, let me ask this question: How and why was there a housing bubble and a financial crisis in the first place? …If you answer anything other than people were greedy and lacked moral values and responsibility, then you will get what you deserve–more leaders acting without integrity. It is true that there is a split in the republican party, and indeed, our country. But are you on the right side of that split?
Posted by: Mikes | February 14, 2012, 1:06 am 1:06 am
TEXASMAN, did Romney promise you a cabinet position in his administration? For the record Romney runs the most negative campaign that all the candidates. Romney is a phony. It is disingenuous for him to criticize other GOP candidates as acting as Democrats, whereas, Romney himself is a liberal in “conservative” clothing.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 14, 2012, 1:24 am 1:24 am
@OPELLAUPLINLY, what in the world is wrong with you? Are you posting under the influence?
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 14, 2012, 1:32 am 1:32 am
Y’know…I’m just a wee bit tired of all this “oh, we need a moderate as our candidate…that’s the only way we can win”. John McCain? Bob Dole? Yeah, they worked out real well for us, didn’t they? I’ll vote for Romney if I have to, but until the primaries are over, I’m happy to support someone who’s not afraid to take all the vitriol being vomited on him and who’s not at all swayed from his convictions by the latest poll and WHO CAN SPEAK WITHOUT A BLOODY TELEPROMPTER!!! I like Rick, and I’m not ashamed to say so. And guess what? I’m a middle class house wife with a Master’s degree…so please don’t toss me off as some backwater hick…or a nazi, because I’m neither. Wanna diss me…take your best shot. I don’t care. ;-) <
Posted by: Violamom | February 14, 2012, 3:09 am 3:09 am
S: Having read much of the works from our founding fathers, I can tell you OUTRIGHT that you are wrong! Freedom of religion IS freedom from religion – if that is your CHOICE.
While I cannot tell you to not practice your religion (even publicly), I can certainly tell you that you can’t have the government forum from which to enact the tenants of your religion. Most of the core of our founding fathers were non-religious, even if they considered themselves to be “Christian.”
Very few understand what Christianity actually is… just look at the fragmentation within the religion!! How many branches does it have, anyway?? Dozens? Hundreds? I rest my case!
Posted by: looncraz | February 14, 2012, 3:33 am 3:33 am
Mosoes: The economy was faltering almost a full year before Bush took office. Remember the Dot Com bust?
Posted by: looncraz | February 14, 2012, 3:35 am 3:35 am
Excellent! The plan is working. Get the GOP to put up the worst candidate against Obama. Excellent.
Posted by: Bob | February 14, 2012, 6:24 am 6:24 am