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TALLAHASSEE, FL -- A defiant Rick Santorum on Thursday attempted to squash any rumors that his campaign is coming to an end, guaranteeing to reporters that he will be in the presidential race for the long run.
"We have a long, long way to go," said Santorum. "We feel very comfortable that as we keep going we're going to pick up our delegates, we're going to stay in this race, and the longer we're in it, the better off we'll be."
The former Pennsylvania senator has signaled a waning commitment to Florida since arriving in the Sunshine State on Sunday. The campaign is still unsure if they'll be in the state on the day of the primary, or if they'll begin campaigning in the quickly approaching caucuses in Nevada or Colorado -- two places Santorum has indicated he will focus on next.
A long primary season would likely present more challenges to Santorum as his would struggle to compete with campaigns with more robust organization and deeper pockets. Santorum has conceded he has no staff in Minnesota or Maine, and only volunteers in Missouri -- states that will hold their contests in early February.
Reshuffling of campaign events and last minute changes to his schedule have fueled speculation that the Santorum campaign might be on its last legs. But today the GOP hopeful signaled his Republican rivals were behind the rumors.
"I know where they're coming from, they're from the other camps. I get that," Santorum said of the hearsay. But, he maintained that no competing campaign has contacted him directly and did not specify which of the candidates he believed were behind it.
It is his fellow candidates vulnerabilities and the volatility of the race that is one reason the Iowa-caucus victor says he has not plans to quit.
"This is unprecedented. We've never had three winners," he said, referencing the fact that three different candidates have won the first three contests of the primary season. "We've never had the dynamism of having eight leaders. And this race is constantly changing ... we believe that that dynamic is still very present."
He has compared the frontrunners in this race to the porridge in the story of Goldilocks, calling for Gingrich "too hot" and Romney "too timid." It's the propensity of the former speaker to speak off the cuff and the long standing inability of the former Massachusetts governor to connect with voters that has Santorum that his longevity in this race may be rewarded.
And despite recent polling showing him well behind frontrunners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in Florida, the candidate struggling to remain relevant will campaign in the state on Friday before heading to Pennsylvania for a fundraiser and returning to Virginia on Saturday to sleep in his own bed since Christmas. It is at that time Santorum will prepare his tax documents to be released, though he has not said specifically when he will make them available to the public.
He returns to Florida for campaign events on Sunday and Monday.
"I guarantee you, we're going to be in this race for a long time," he said.
Leave a Comment:
He's out; either before the 31st or right after...
Every single post on this page, has given me such a terrific laugh. Why? Because if any of you were questioned, on the Tonight Show, you probably would know little to nothing, about ANY of those who are running for the Republican position! It makes me double over with laughter, at all the "Arm Chair Quarterbacks" who are so willing to disparage ALL the candidates, instead of making a list of what is MOST important to you, in the next President, and finding out which of the Candidates share your views and priorities.
Instead of judging them by their past, or their wealth, or their haircut, or who will "meltdown" and who yells loudest of all of them, you would do yourselves more justice, if you are fed up with the way Congress is ignoring those who voted for them, and working against every President since Bill Clinton, you would be better off to use your anger and energy, to RECALL those in Congress who refuse to move forward, and work in tandem with the other party. What's wrong with the Government is what's wrong with the comments on this page (probably including, but not limited to my own)....no one knows how to RECALL those in Congress who are NOT DOING THEIR JOB for us.
They are not our keepers, or our bosses, yet they vote themselves a raise, for their performance?
Time we made a list of those who are "dead wood" not doing anything but obstructing progress and kissing up to the wealthy, who admit to paying less taxes than their secretaries, and hauled them out of Congress, and stopped their benefits, healthcare and let them find out how it feels NOT to have a job. Whatever is good for the citizens, should also apply to them, especially since they are not working, they are just pulling everyone's chain. Peace, now go use your energy more constructively. Write your Congresspeople, yell and scream, and find out HOW to impeach those who are not doing their jobs!
MOST important to you, in the next President,
That's easy, he's already in office doing what is most important to me, President Barrack Obama...
Funny...Jon Huntsman had a ticket to ride. How far did that get him?
Long Haul = until the money is gone
There is nothing worse than a Presidential Candidate holding the Political Party back due to denial. Rick Santorum was lucky in Iowa, but only by 25 votes.
Rick Santorum, where to begin... Rick Santorum is a candidate of integrity... I get that. Rick Santorum believes passionately in his platform. I get that... However, Rick Santorum is too "green" in the Political Arena still. Why? He can't control his emotions. Obama would eat him for lunch in a debate, when Rick Santorum allowed his anger and frustration to get the best of him. He showed that in South Carolina, he showed that in Iowa, he showed that in New Hampshire and now, in Jacksonville, Florida. Rick Santorum came across angry and frustrated in the Jacksonville debate. This fact underscored his message. Rick Santorum doesn't have the political and financial campaign to take Barack Obama on and that would lead to an easy win by Barack Obama.
I believe Rick Santorum needs a little more mentoring in the political arena and he will be a GOP force to be reckoned with in the future. But, this is not his time or his election. I believe prior primaries and the polls are showing that; he needs to stand back and bow out. Currently, Rick Santorum is dividing the GOP process due to denial of the facts... Everything points to his non ability to pull ahead in the polls. He is now a hindrance... not a help to the GOP Presidential Primary process.
This is not his fight anymore.
Oh yeah the frothy cult member !
Santorum: "We've never had the dynamism of having eight leaders."
For once, Rick, I agree with you completely.
Translation: I'm in this thing til Newt finally melts down and the party turns to me in desperation.
@ Steeler Fan,
Possible, but not probable. This probably is his reasoning though.
What else does he have to do?
Become a sweater vest model.
He is going to star in the live action remake of "Davey and Goliath"
It reminds me of the story of the supreme optimist child who wants a pony and is taken out by the barn only to find a pile of manuer. He starts digging in the belief that under that pile there must be a pony. He digs, and digs, and digs some more until he finally reaches the bottom and finds no pony. Well this kid is Santorum and all he will do is continue to shovel the s*&^* until the pile runs out and he'll find no pony. Apparently the Supreme Being isn't playing puppeteer enough for Rick or even talking to him to tell him what to do to ensure a win. Oh will that's how it goes.
His kind " the sick pathetic cult members " cheapens the Presidency .And the people have spoken !
From a conservative in Florida;
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As a resident in SW Florida, where these stats are from (the day before yesterday) Newt has illuminated exactly what they don't like in a candidate...weakness.
Mitt and The Establishment are in full panic mode and will dredge up (er..drudge up) anything and everything over the last 30 years. It will fail in the long run.
When your opponents have nothing to say about themselves, and instead focus the discussion on you, even if its bad, your opponent is sucking up the oxygen in the room. It is a failed strategy after Newt already withstood multiple gauntlets in the last 90
days...just more Steel sharpening Steel.
THE END IS NEAR FOR...Mitt 'The Flipper' Romney and the Rino Establishment.
(1) Newt Gingrich, while campaigning in Southwest Florida, drew crowds of (4,000) in Sarasota and (6,000) in Naples.
(2) Rick Santorum, while campaigning in Southwest Florida drew crowds of (200-400) in Punta Gorda, Stuart, and Okeechobee
(3) Mitt 'The Rino' Romney, while campaigning in Southwest Florida, drew crowds of (250) in Lehigh Acres
The animosity permeates the air in this part of Florida, and Obama will loose badly in November
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72019.html#ixzz1kbESFYzs
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The Pollsters and pundits are missing the zeitgeist of the race and will be "shocked" yet again by what they should have seen in 80 point type...
He is in until there is no doubt who will be the Rep nominee and then he can work on getting the VP nod.
another one taken advantage of celebrity status,,,,,,,will make money from his run....he knows he wont win but staying will make him millions.....i would rather have him make the millions than be president
The only super-rich friend Santorum has is the Vatican. Don't expect a Holy See Super PAC to smear his opponents. They still need to justify Gingrich.
Sanitorum Sanitarum is a traitor to the Office Of The Presidency, the US Constitution, the US Bill Of Rights, and the Civil Rights Act Of 1964. Everyone wave goodbye to this very "Socially Sadistic" individual. That is fact!!
I like Rick's A- grade on NumbersUSA.com
Some people just can't take a hint!
Fellow Americans. Mr. Santorum has failed to recognize that there are (4) four candidates standing on the stage. He has did this in several debates. Shame shame. Now you know the rest of the story.
Santorum, the little train that, I think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can....... awwww the hell with it!
I know this won't happen, but I'd like to see Paul win Florida. That will likely ensure that the GOP primary season continues with the first four contests being 4/4. The show must go on . . . LOL LMAO. FOFL (Fall On Floor Laughing! )
Don't understand why the drone call Santorum followers cultists? Does that mean that all Obama follower's are anti-American socialists? I do know that if progressives attack Rick that means they fear him because they don't have any facts to smear him with. The Washington press tried by falsely accusing Rick of supporting personal mandates back in 94 when the C-Span tapes clearly show that Rick not once but twice denounces personal mandates but did support health savings plans. The liberals want Romney and will use any lie they can manufacture to get him. Hey isn't this some sort of record hasn't it been weeks since Obama last spent millions of the American peoples money on a luxury vacation?
"The liberals want Romney and will use any lie they can manufacture to get him."
No -- we want Newt. While President Obama will easily beat Romney he will destroy Newt.
Rick --- the people in PA booted your sorry ass out by more than a 2 to 1 margin and you're doing even worse on nation-wide. You may be in this for the long haul but you're hauling nothing.
If her were a VP for Rion Paul and the front runners got to the convention, I would switch in a flash. He has the kind of family values I like, and, RIGHT NOW, HE IS SHOWING THAT HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALIZES THIS IS A JOB, NOT A LIFE. - WHICH OF THE OTHERS DO YOU THINK WOULD GO HOME IN THE MOST CRITICAL ELECTION OF THE CENTURY ? My kind of guy! Screw the election: My family comes first.