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APPLETON, WI -- With less than 36 hours remaining until Wisconsin voters may well hand to Mitt Romney another primary victory, Rick Santorum told reporters that a contested convention in Tampa would be "fascinating" and "energizing" for the Republican Party.
"I think it would be a fascinating display of open democracy and I think it would be an energizing thing for our party to have a candidate emerge who isn’t the blessed candidate of the republican establishment," he told reporters during a stop at a cheese shop and factory.
"I think that’s a good thing, it’s a good narrative for us," he said of a prolonged primary contest and floor fight. "It makes this election a short election. The shorter this election in the fall, the better off we are, not the worse."
Santorum, who trails in public polls in the Badger State, faces increasing calls to exit the race and allow Romney, who's working to cement his status as the party's presumptive nominee, to focus on the general election.
But the former Pennsylvania senator, who spends much of his stump speech arguing against that premise, has vowed to keep the heat on his rival.
"Cutting this short and getting the wrong candidate is worse than making this a fight for the heart and soul of America and the heart and soul of the Republican Party," he told voters last night in Green Bay."
In Appleton, Santorum offered a lengthy explanation of his view of a contested convention, saying that the ultimate nominee would be determined by unbound delegates rather than by "power brokers" like in past cycles.
"That’s just not how the Republican nomination works anymore," he said of traditional "brokered conventions" of old.
Santorum also hopes that a strong showing in his home state of Pennsylvania in three weeks will re-inject an air of legitimacy to a campaign that most political observers now see as a sideshow.
"We're going to win there," he said of Pennsylvania. "The maps look a lot better for us in May."
But of Wisconsin, he only promised "a good vote ... a loud, confident vote from conservatives."
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"I think it would be a fascinating display of open democracy and I think it would be an energizing thing for our party to have a candidate emerge who isn’t the blessed candidate of the republican establishment," he told reporters during a stop at a cheese shop and factory.
Rick Santorum's statement about a brokered convention is shockingly selfish, in my opinion. Rick is thinking of his own chances , and not the Party as a whole.
Rick Santorum has a bright future, if he bows out of this race soon. Otherwise he may get a backlash from GOP voters and leaders who think he is damaging the Party.
I can't wait. The only thing is, how would Rick win at the convention in spite of the "republican establishment?" It would be back to the smoke filled room, with lots of deals, power plays, money changing hands, bridges to nowhere making a reappearance, and after all of that, the winner will be........................... Sketchy Romney.
"Rick Santorum has a bright future"
As what? A spokesmodel for the sweater vest industry? If we assume President Obama wins re-election, then by 2016, Santorum will have been out of politics for ten years and will be known as the guy who lost his Senate re-election bid by 18 points and who couldn't beat Mitt Romney, one of the weakest GOP presidential candidates ever. And just for the sake of discussion, let's assume Romney does somehow win in November - is Santorum going to challenge him in 2016? Unlikely. And by 2020, he'll have been out of politics for 14 years and if he's remembered for anything, it'll still be his losses.
In other words, by then he'll be Newt Gingrich.
I hope he didn't completely clean out his desk at Fox News.....
I am sure in his group of friends he is very well liked, but he is now leader. Some say he might return to run for Prez in 2016. WTF? Is there any other Repubs that will represent them? This primary was a joke. Romney do not chose Rubio as your VP. Repubs need to get rid of tea partyers and reevaluate their priorities.
They need to stop paying attention to the evangelists as well. Thank them for the War on Women.
Oh my gosh. I can't believe Santorum is going on about this. I thought everyone decided the primary was just about sewn up and they could coalesce around their candidate. How does a brokered convention and more uncertainty help the Republican party?
Bob in Virginia-5210392 -- Tell us which GOP/TP candidate is NOT in the race for himself? Also, Romney should actually have the number of delegates needed (and a little more for good measure considering the unbound delegates) before other candidates drop out of the race.
Santorum represents the religious radicals under that tent, Gingrich represents the southern Red Necks (NRA, neocon Hawks), Ron Paul the "fiscal Nazis," and Mitt Romney represents the Big Business plutocrats. It's way past time for Teapublicans to get a new platform that will unite these factions, and bring moderates back into the Party and not just cater to the far-right fringe.
Otherwise, the religious-Right needs to split off into their own Party the way Libertarians have done, though they ALL need to run as Independents like the far Left has done (e.g., Ralph Nader, or Bernie Sanders, even Lieberman). These fundamentalist zealots (like Santorum) are ruining the "brand" and instead of sweeping him/them under the rug, the Teapublicans need a "come to Jesus" meeting to get this under control.
Oh never mind, just save yourself the trouble -- Obama/Biden - 2012!
it may turn out that.. Ron Paul.. secretly stealing delegates could be the winner
True Patriot,
The GOP has a hard time keeping every one in a big tent. Dems have had years to prefect this. Often to their own peril. Because it is hard work to organize and get on the ballot, and raise money in the world of super pacs. Perot and Andersen, both had the money and time and organization to make a run without the GOP. Third parties will never be able to make it on the national level, but in local elections and event the state if they organize they can elect some folks.
NorthstarDFL-- You're right, it is different when running for congress at the state level than for POTUS nationwide. Americans Elect is trying to overcome this problem. I believe Buddy Roemer is going this route. Conservatives -- take a look at this option, because it's a better choice than Romney.
And then the Independents end up caucusing with one of the major Parties (as per other countries with multiple parties). Nonetheless, the Tea Party hijacked the Republican Party via primary threats -- which was never the intention of the founding fathers -- to jam a minority agenda down the throats of our nation in this manner. They need to be thrown out and this sabotage ended.
independent jim -- What if Ron Paul releases his delegates in exchange for Rand being the VP? It would also be a perversion of our system of democracy. What is it with the right-wing and their Operation Chaos mentality?
They're completely nuts? lol
Rick, Newt, and Willard have that magic combo that has energized the GOP.
The trouble is more and more people don't know what to make of the glowing, shaking, freakazoid monster it's become.
Recent polls show voters are using their better judgment and backing away from it before it bites them badly.
I'm just amazed with his logic, come 2012 the people of America will think the Republicans are a bunch of idiots just one blunder after another, better look around folks because whats going on is not at all good from the Florida "Stand your Ground" law to all those crazy Arizona legislation's, I can't say there is anything that has been seen as good for the American people done by the Republicans. Right now the country is at each others throats because of a law that makes killing even a kid walking back from the store minding his own business legal, this shows us that they can't run the country properly, people in America are now living in fear over this law because if this law lets the killer walk away anyone can be be killed without cause ........
Rick-3608408 -- Well now, thanks to the right-leaning SCOTUS and conservative judges legislating from the bench, you can be strip searched for no reason at all -- We are becoming a Police State. When we look at Michigan and democracy replaced with an Emergency Financial Manager, we are looking at Marshal Law. "Stand Your Ground" vigilantism, along with the skyrocketing increase in militia, and today more domestic terrorism with a Planned Parenthood facility bombed in Wisconsin -- If folks thought "starve the beast" anarchy was bad enough, well think again. This is right-wing fascism, fast-tracked with tools like A.L.E.C. -- All good people must come together to save our great nation NOW!
Santorum missed the memo. GOP announced months ago who conservatives are supposed to vote for. Why are conservatives not stepping in line and obeying their masters?
Seriously, how bad is Romney? Sure, he's a liberal in conservative clothing but, conservatives always follow the establishment. What's the big difference now?
Hey, don't get me wrong. I'd love to see Santorum and Gingrich along with the beloved Ron Paul all gather around a brokered convention. It's sheer entertainment for me. But what gives?
Since Obama has been elected, conservatives have fought back with the TEA party movement, the health insurance propaganda machine, and the evangelical base.
Now, they get a chance of nominating Obama-lite Romney and he turns out not to be the preferred candidate? He's the only one that had a shot... until he shot himself in the foot, and Santorum pulls out an Etch a Sketch. Then Romney has to be elbow deep in Ryan and Walker. That blows any hope for moderates and independents.
And where the heck is George Bush Jr.'s endorsement? At least the establishment has been able to keep quiet about it. Since Bush is the "name that can not be spoken", they've played it smart so far in that aspect.
Yet, I still see conservatives blogging the blessings of Romney so I guess Santorum hasn't phased them much. But, the same can be said of Romney not affecting Santorum either.
So, are the conservatives moved by their hatred of Obama or their religious beliefs with Santorum?
It's really puzzling to me and yet entertaining.
A brokered convention is his only means of staying relevant...to whom, I'm not sure.
Selfish is about the last word I would use to describe Santorum. Honest to a fault is how I would describe Santorum. The reason people think his is nothing but social issues is because his detractors continually ask such questions, and he obliges to answer. Funny thing about that - that is called transparancy, something people say they want.
Out of touch is appropriate for Romney and Gingrich intellectually arrogant.
An energizing thing? Not! The Republican party is broken. It's full of politicians like Santorum: they care more about their personal gain than they do about their party or their country.
Sounds a lot like Santorum will contest the result no matter what actually happens. What else do we expect from a candidate who feels he is "called by God" to be president? Could the fact that he is not even close to having the required number of delegates be a sign that he is not really "called by God" after all? Stay tuned...
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Ricky is going to very upset with God. He asked Ricky to run for laughs.
Ricky's Plan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSRSHUGOOn4
I think it would be a fascinating display as well...... of what though is left to the imagination.
Bob, what's with the x? Does being first to comment matter that much to you?
Santorum is fairly wrong, but then can't say what he's really saying. He fully believes Romney does not have the integrity to be president. And I'm sure his desire to be president is mixed in there, too. So he sees a contested convention as the only chance for his party not to nominate a candidate that the membership of that party wouldn't be embarrassed supporting. How much better a candidate would Santorum be? Debatable. To me, he's certainly more honest, and trustworthiness is believed to be the single most important attribute of a presidential candidate. But also undisciplined; gets knocked off message more than a candidate should at this level. And so many of his views hit some women like a dog whistle.
Hard to say - guess that what's left of a historically weak nominating field.
Paul,
Wouldn't it be a hoot if they did go for a contested/brokered convention and NONE of the current field of 4 was chosen? (I am SUCH a rabble rouser)
Phine--that could certainly be a risk with the current crop of "contenders". It would put cats among the canaries for sure!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Gotta admit, it would make for an exciting convention. I can already see the pundit class heads exploding!
Maybe the GNOP should add on their ballots "None of the Above"........where is Harold Stassen when you need him?
Actually, Phine, I think that's the best course the GOP has. Fresh, relatively undefined name.
It would really throw the president's reelection team for a loop. I think they wanted Romney all along. On paper, he looks like a toothless tiger for the Democrats to take on - for several reasons. Not just because of the way Romney wouldn't have the same ability to tap into health care law anger, but the past flip-flopping and integrity questions (which he only amplified during this nomination race) and because when this campaign began it looked like a 1-percenter, Wall Street Gordon Gecko type would be a hard sell for Republicans.
That's the one common thread between the occupy thing and the tea party thing. Both are based on a sense that the good ol' boy establishment somehow screwed things up beyond recognition. And both are based on a populist uprising against that establishment (though they were fighting different establishments). Romney, amazingly, taps into both establishments... and yet the Republicans still are going to nominate him (mostly because of a lack of credible alternatives).
Granted, in the months since, they may have been tempted to push for one of those alternatives. But still, all in all, the Democrats have to be satisfied with this opposition. The only thing Romney can really bring against them is his mystical line of: "I can't tell you how to do it better, because you couldn't possibly understand, but if I was president these last three years, the recovery would be further along." Sorry, but when the economic plans his campaign has put forward just ring of the same Republican proposals we've heard for decades now, the mysticism somehow starts to sound a little strained.
Phine and Paul,
You fell for Santorum's bait. "wouldn't it be fascinating?"
That a prayer might get Santorum another handful of delegates.
The RNC controls their party's convention, they set the rules , they are all card carrying GOP, no independents.
It is Romney who will get the nomination on the first ballot.
They will throw some bones in the way of speeches for the others. Santorum will probably speak at 3 in the after noon eastern time. :)
Paul S.,
Harold Stassen did fight the good fight but became a caricature of his early self. MN loved his never say never style.
The Scandinavian stubbornness is a MN trait.
Ricky's Plan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSRSHUGOOn4
Ouroboros doth consume itself in a spate of spite and vitriol. Let all see the gore soaked convention, it shall make the '92 convention look like the pacific halcyon days that now only exist in the G.O.P.'s fondest dreams.
Sorry Santorum, this one is for Wall Street. The candidate is of the people, by the people, and for the people. The people were created by the Roberts Court, not God.
Ricky's Plan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSRSHUGOOn4
I guest now that all of the confusion inside the republican party is suppose to disappear now that gods pick has spoken? What is he going to say next that he wants the octomom to come an stay in his house because god does not want her on the pill?
Sorry Rick, nothing is going to energize the republican party (MAYBE HATE)...Obama's gonna kick some butt in November...
Youtube video: check it out repubs
Grassley Endorses Individual Mandate
Hey republicans your boy endorsed the Individual Mandate, yeh the one the SC wants to knock down...I hope they do so Obama can get to work on "Singer Payer" for all instead...
Anyone but another "Community Organizer" ....
As we have found out ....
They don't make good presidents ....
America disagrees. Obama ahead nationwide by 11 and in Swing states by average of 8. Another 200,000 Jobs Report this month announced this Friday (4th 200K + month in a row, 25th Month of positive private sector growth.
Iraq war ending, Economic calamity averted, Bin Laden and Sr Al Quaeda leadership dead, Consumer confidence up, Exports up, Consumer Spending up, Jobs up, Unemployment down, Domestic Energy Production up, Oil Dependency down, stock market at record levels, small business loans up.......I mean I can go on. The GOP has lost the battle to sabotage the recovery.
Once gas prices go down this fall, the GOP will literally have nothing but the debt to campaign on. And we all know how well the Ryan Plan is being received by America. If the Dems can get behind Simpson- Bowles, it would all be over for the GOP. Since yhjey have no actual Solutions anyway
Rick you lost get over it!
I'm with you Toyota3
Santorum is a NUT case.
Yes a brokered Convention I can just see it now. Red placards all the delegates dressed in bright red and a new candidate emerges. The crowd chanting Satan!!! Satan!!!! Satan......... Mr Chairman teh great State of Alaska casts all of it's votes for Satan!!!
Seriously? The Republican Party cannot nominate someone who already holds the office (for the other side) to run for the office....doh.
FedUp with PC Rhetoric
Please leave Boehner out of this. He's one of the few semi-moderates the republicans have left.
what a big bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Nothing worse than an egomaniac that can not see when his insanity to win is hurting the entire party . Both Newt and Santorum need to step aside ! They are two fools who don't have a chance to win but are so egotistical they won't give in. Scary if any of these two ever make it on the ticket ! Only one thing could be worse, another four years of Obama the great divider!!! Mitt is the clear option and these fools are hurting him its time for all Republicans to come together now!!!!!!!!! Wake up or we are toast against the leftwing president something no American that loves this country can afford!!!
I do not think Santorumis going to get out until he is humiliated in PA. Newty is not a factor. You have to win at least 5 states to even participate in a brokered convention, he only won two. Ron Paul has nothing better to do. How many times has he ran for Prez?
Santorum ... fleabag sucking idiot, plain and simple.
I would have preferred that babykilling abortion mill in Wisconson had been burned all the way to the ground.
Nice. Do you know the real meaning of the term Pro-Life? Chances are you don't. You and the Republicans cannot force your beliefs down the throats of those of us that have a right to a choice as to what we do with our bodies. Would you ask the victim of rape or incest to carry a child conceived in those situations to term? Would you adopt that child? If you expect that, you're just as much of a monster as the Republicans are. Planned Parenthood provides more than just abortions. Without it, many women would not be able to get treatment for more serious conditions. Planned Parenthood also provides mammograms and screenings for cervical cancer, among others. Perhaps you would rather have us go back to the days of the coat hanger abortion. The time when God fearing, Christian parents kicked their daughters to the street for an unwanted pregnancy.
Donald Spitz: Tea Party Terrorist
The sound you hear is the womens vote going for Obama.
By All Means. Keep Going. Keep the Retardlikan Primary Circus going ALL the Way to Tampa.
We LOVE Recording ALL the STUPID things that Pop out of the Candidates Mouths.
Those Videos are going to Make GREAT Advertisements Once the STUPIDS Finally Figure
Out How to Nominate a Candidate. Lots MORE LOL for the Rest of US.
Here's a thought,since the rethug party has unirated away millions of dollars in this excersize in futility,rethug primary, it's getting old and I'm not laughing anymore,why not just GIVE the rest of the money that they will spend on a convention and the rest of the primary to a good charity,regroup and you will have 4 years to come up with someone SANE to run in 2016!
Looks like the March Jobs report is going to be another 200,000 + jobs report according to ADP. Oh, and January and February were revised up also. Poor Republicans....losing on the economy despite their best efforts to sabotage it.
I must say I am enjoying the Republican Primary process immensely, it shows a party in disarray. The Republican party is not united. There is outright rebellion in the far right conservative base over the Establishment candidates. I appreciate the fact that lots of money has been pumped into the primary states, helping the economy, but it really has not helped the Republicans, all those debates.. hours and hours of free campaign ads for the democrats, that was well thought out. We got Ron "the wandering eyebrow" Paul, Rickie "the sweater vest bowler" Santorum, Mom jean wearing "flip flopper" Mitt Romney and " I'll send you to the moon" Newt!!! You just can't make this stuff up!!!!!! Kudos one and all, the best entertainment on the planet at this point!!!!!!!
This may not fit, but I heard this man make a statement of which was false, he stated that no Ca state Univ teached American History, really, what a dip, they have many american history courses, the only one that doesn't is USC San Francisco, it is a medical school where people become doctors and one of the best in this country, he has no clue the pompus dip.
It would really be nice to have a strong 3rd political party that could temper the stubborn polarity of the other two and force compromise and cooperation, that being the way our government is suppose to work. It could be made up of “centrists” and moderates from the two parties, focused on serving the middle-class, the majority. That isn’t likely to happen any time soon, so we need to deal with what we have, to somehow break the gridlock that accomplishes nothing, only serving political strategies, and avoid rewarding irresponsibility by ever returning to more of the same, Bush-Cheney style, that caters to “the few” (1%) and drastically costs the majority (99%).
We can fault the imperfect Democrats but we shouldn’t ever be duped into returning the “puppet” Republicans to power, who are owned and controlled by their masters, “the money”, who they dutifully serve for their strong support, while insultingly just taking the majority, including the total middle-class, for granted. Some of us may have biases, prejudices, fears and/or emotional loyalties that make it hard to acknowledge the decline of the Republican Party, now including the Tea Party, but the last twelve years have made it completely clear that they are stubborn and arrogant in their total focus on being “puppets” for “the few”, who “pull their strings”, while with cocky confidence they just assume they can con the people and manipulate public opinion to serve their purposes. People like Norquist, Rove, Cheney, the SuperPacs and others leave no doubt as to the intimidation they use on their own people; the “puppet” candidates they offer actually confirm their literal contempt for the public in taking them for granted; the arrogance and belligerence of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Ryan and others clearly identifies their total focus on serving only the few, while they put their political ambitions above their responsibilities to the people; and the antics of those like Limbaugh, Palin, Beck, Hannity and more show the insulting nature of their fixation. They fault “big government”, government spending and the deficit but that is a distraction aimed to keep people from recognizing that actually government spending is currently needed and then what really caused our problems is permissive (co-responsible) politicians catering to “the few” with policies that encourage exploitation, with the costs going to the majority and with “the few” walking away “fat and sassy”. To ignore all of that, for whatever loyalty, is self-defeating.
The gap between the very wealthy and the majority keeps growing and “the money” is pushing to continue that trend, to literally push us further into being a two-class society with “the few” competing in having it all while the majority is left struggling. To accept that, to accept a return to “more of the same”, is ridiculous and is then just to be “pawns” in their game, to actually grovel and simply hope for consideration that won’t come because their’s is an insatiable “more” appetite that is never satisfied.