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His mathematical chances of winning the GOP nomination are slim. He came up short in the crucial races of Michigan and Ohio. And he just lost the GOP primary contests in DC, Maryland, and Wisconsin.
But Rick Santorum -- despite starting out this presidential season as an afterthought -- has already accomplished a few important feats that shouldn't be overlooked as attention begins turning to the general election. First, with limited campaign funds and almost no real infrastructure, he ultimately emerged as Mitt Romney's chief rival.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum sits in a booth at Bob's Diner in Carnegie, Pa.
In fact, Santorum's actually won more states so far than Mike Huckabee did in 2008, 11-8. And he's won as many contests as Romney did four years ago.
Second, even if he doesn't win another primary race, Santorum could be a significant player in the 2016 or 2020 presidential contests, although he would face plenty of serious competition (from the likes of Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Bob McDonnell, etc.).
And third, and perhaps most importantly, Santorum has repaired some of the political damage he sustained in 2006, when he lost his Senate re-election bid in Pennsylvania by a whopping 18 percentage points, 59%-41%.
"It's hard to argue Sen. Santorum hasn't significantly raised his profile nationally among Republican voters, donors and members of the media due to his primary campaign performance," GOP strategist Danny Diaz tells First Read.
Of course, it's exactly that repaired political image, Republican political observers say, that could be at stake in the April 24 primary in his home state of Pennsylvania. A win there could justify him staying in the presidential contest -- and could serve as a springboard to the May primary races.
But a loss in his home state could be embarrassing. A recent Quinnipiac University poll, conducted before Tuesday's primaries, showed Santorum leading Romney by only six points in the state, 41%-35%.
As GOP political consultant Mike Murphy, who once worked for Romney, tweeted, "Will [Santorum] figure out this week that his potential '16 hand is now stronger than his '12 hand and fold? Or stay in and ruin his long game?"
And if he decides to stay in the race, how he campaigns could be just as important to his reputation, Republicans argue.
"The story until now is a pretty compelling one about a leader who rose from also-ran status to one-time front-runner. If he gets out now, or stays in but runs a positive-only campaign, that narrative will remain largely intact," says GOP political adviser Todd Harris.
"But if he continues with a quixotic slash-and-burn campaign against the man everyone knows is going to be our nominee, he risks being remembered not as a come-from-behind leader, but as a petulant politician who put selfish self-interest ahead of defeating President Obama."
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Give it up Rick......time for REALITY! Stop blowing other people's money for nothing! YOU ARE DONE! Now deal with it! It sure looks like Romney/Rubio 2012!
Sure does. NOT! Mutt is toast.
Dude, Romney is gonna get his ass handed to him in November.
Cya at the polls.....remember what happened to the DEMS on 11/2/10?...Get ready to Rumble!
I hope Lil Icky Ricky keeps right on slogging along! The longer he sticks to it, the worse his party looks! Heck, they couldn't look much worse. Look who the front runner is, an etch a sketch master, flip flopper extraordinaire! It will be fun to watch him get splattered during the debates! Go Lil Ricky, show how much ass you got! The party of NO, will soon be no more! YEAH! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Ricky- Your party is calling you to do the right thing and pull out, but you just can't can you? Probable against church doctrine! LOL
Meanwhile keep reading and repeating things like, in the Netherlands they kill their old, or that California's College's and University's don't allow US history to be taught. You snob! LOL
LOL, actually I think that "is" how they do it, in the Catholic Church....
Bye Bye Sanitarium. Go home and have another kid.
I think that Rick , Newt and Ron should all go home as to save the taxpayers money on their Secret Service Protection. Mrs. Santorum is probably so over whelmed being a single parent while Rick is wasting the taxpayers money with his hopeless campaign, I would not wish another child for her to take care of.
I think this is a break for republicans. Mitt can't keep his story straight but he is not an embarressment. Besides, this election will give Mitt an opportunity to challenge Pat Paulson's record.
Santo (or ANY Repub for that matter) run a POSITIVE campaign??? You haven't been watching. He's not capable of it. He's too mired in his own arrogant rectitude and too convinced of the merit of his own credo to be open to any viewpoint other than his own, which he believes all other Americans should live by. He can't help but condemn ANYONE who doesn't think like he does. It's just who he is. A Repub.
Santorum`s rise shows how right wing the GOP has become. Gingrich has very little support (mostly rightist too). Paul is backed by mostly idealists, who provide too narrow a base. Romney has begun to act a bit euphoric the past few days, which will likely cause him problems. The GOP`s problem is that Obama has the middle in hand, and given the right wing hostility toward women, he is likely to keep it. This time a year ago, things did not look that good for Obama, but they look much better now. Oh,and Rubio says he does not want The VP nod. Of course we all know how consistent politicians are, but.
It is not about how well Santorum has done. It is all about how poorly Romney has done. With six years of campaigning and all the money he has, Romney is still fighting for the nomination and is losing to the cumulative numbers of his opponents, except when Santorum is not on the ballot. Romney is not the front runner, he is just first in a line of losers. The strong Republican contender is not in the race.
You're correct Romney has not done anything to amaze anyone and will be the GOP candidate by default, not by merit.
The only reason one could consider Santorum's stamina as a good performance is because everyone else quickly rose up against Romney and quickly fell. But my opinion is Santorum was lucky enough to rise at the right moment allowing him to stick around longer than the others.
Ultimately you are correct in that there is no strong Republican contender in the race.
Surprised this DOD filter of profiteering @!$%#s didn't derail it under cover of the most outrageous social injustices...
Really??? Surely you can't be serious???
MSNBC need to get their act together and at least put a disclaimer on how your delegate count is figured. It sure does not jive with the estimates of other news sources - not even close with Santorum's or Romney's numbers.
Carole,
Several of the states don't actually assign their delegates until the convention. The counts are accurate. You're complaining about MSNBC, so chances are you're a Fox viewer, and as we all know, according to the study released this past November, Fox viewers are indeed less informed than those who watch no news at all.
This is the guy that says things to his "base" like, "they don't teach American history in California universities" and "Because they have voluntary euthanasia in the Netherlands but half of the people who are euthanized — ten percent of all deaths in the Netherlands — half of those people are enthanized involuntarily at hospitals because they are older and sick".
Both these are patenly false, totally bogus, outright lies, rubbish and nonsense. Here's the thing. We all know he says these things intentionally, knowing they're false, to pander to and gin up his "base". This is a guy running for the President of the US, yet he stoops down to the lowest level, disrespects his audience by implicitly acknowledging they are dumb and he wants to keep them that way.
Can you imagine President Obama saying such things, knowingly lying outright? Stooping down to that level? Would any Democratic candidate for President say such things, and knowingly? No, no, no, and no. That's the difference between CONServatives and Liberals.
I absolutely can imagine President Obama knowingly lying outright. He does it all the time. A great example is when he says the Ryan budget "cuts" spending on student loans. Not true, it doesn't increase spending which is NOT the same thing. He knowingly says it to gain momentum. He skews information all the time.
No politician is worthy - neither side - you're just fooling yourself if you believe the Democrats are truthful.
proud_hispanic I'm talking about outright bullsh!t falsehoods, you can disagree on policy, one side says we should do this, the other side says, no, your policy is wrong, that's what President Obama, the statesman, is saying. Santorum, Romney, Gingrich, Perry, Cain, Bachmann, with these jokers, it's not about disagreeing with the President's policies which they no doubt do, but they make stuff up, they just say anything, and mostly UNrelated to actual policies, but they throw in nonsense and rubbish, from Kenyan muslim socialist to death panels to Obama is more dangerous than any terrorist, etc. THEY MAKE STUFF UP. Total nonsense and rubbish. It used to be these would be fringe candidates who wouldn't stand a chance of getting out of the gate, but today, in tea party land on the right, they are the leading candidates! This could never happen on the Democratic side. We are too intelligent and we wouldn't tolerate idiots and people of no intelligence, no matter how good they look. That is the difference between CONServatives and Liberals.
Proud--Here are some reports on the Ryan budget and student aid: They Ryan budget, adopted by House Republicans yesterday, would drastically cut Pell Grants and other forms of student aid. (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/30/1079233/-One-million-students-would-lose-Pell-Grants-under-Republican-nbsp-budget-); http://www.washington.edu/federalrelations/ryan-budget-proposes-deeper-cuts-to-student-financial-aid/;http://www.seattlemedium.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=113145&sID=3&ItemSource=L. Google "Ryan Budget and Student Aid" and you'll find many more. Are all those news outlets misinformed?
acspore--You're absolutely right. Santorum lives in a fact free world. He will say virtually anything, no matter how strange, to gain votes. The Onion has a wonderful piece on this characteristic: http://www.theonion.com/articles/voters-slowly-realizing-santorum-believes-every-de,27518/. How seriously should we take the candidacy of someone being satirized in The Onion?
Old-Vet: No the news outlets are not misinformed, they're well aware that Obama is counting lack of increase in budgets as budget cuts. They state clearly the "proposal is limiting growth of federal aid", not decreasing. The figure they come up with is a figure that WOULD have happened if we allow our government to keep spending.
Just year 3:
I’ve done more for Israel’s security than any President ever
Obama aided Islamic Extremists take over of Egypt/ Libya – Weapons pour into Gaza
Virtually every Senate Republican voted against the tax cut last week
twenty Republicans voted for the measure to proceed,
“Every idea that we’ve put forward are ones that traditionally have been supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.”
Like Raising taxes?
Obama met highly qualified out of work teacher Robert Baroz
He wasn’t out of work and Obama never met him.
GOP Responsible for Obama Jobs Bill Not Passing
Dems Rejected Jobs Bill
You have 80 percent of the American people who support a balanced approach. Eighty percent of the American people support an approach that includes revenues and includes cuts. So the notion that somehow the American people aren’t sold is not the problem
Gallup Poll: Only 69%
I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven’t resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.
Social Security has its own dedicated tax that it doesn’t need to share.
USA producing more oil than ever before
He's counting private property, not government owned. Nothing his administration has done to product more oil. But he likes to take credit. Lie
Fence between US and Mexico is “Practically Complete”
Department of Homeland Security says 5%
I'm not saying the Republicans don't lie, they do. Just don't tell me the Democrats are truthful.
acspore-2445269: Just so you know I am NOT a Palin fan, but when she was a VP candidate your liberal friends did exactly what you're talking about. They made up lies and called her names, brought her family into it... and much more.
You want to defend the policies you agree with? Go ahead, but please do not tell me liberals are better people.
proud_hispanic,
Nobody made up lies about Sarah Palin, sure she gave us tons of fodder, but every bit of it was 100% true.
Oh, and liberals are MUCH better people than what people are calling "conservatives" these days (and by that I mean that Republicans are no longer conservatives, they are regressives that believe in taking us back to pre-industrial times when hate intolerance and selfishness were the norms of society.)
Proud--You must be reading different articles than I am. When an article says the Republican proposal will cut Pell Grants, I take it to mean there will be less money in Pell Grants, not that the amount will remain constant. And the articles I cited for you make it very clear that is what would happen.
What amazes more than this returdican are the returdicans that support this corrupt weasel.
If he stays in the "race", we'll see how soundly his home state of PA rejects him.
I like this last sentence
"But if he continues with a quixotic slash-and-burn campaign against the man everyone knows is going to be our nominee, he risks being remembered not as a come-from-behind leader, but as a petulant politician who put selfish self-interest ahead of defeating President Obama."
JUST LIKE NEWT
His reputation in PA is repaired?? Um... not according to Pennsylvanians. I can tell you that in my neck of the woods, there's still rejoicing that he's out. And we're still really pissed that he sent his kids to VA schools on our dime.
MSH--Vifrtually everyone I associate with agrees with you, but how do we account for the polls showing Santorum with a slight lead over Romney? Maybe neither of us has heard from "North Alabama," also known as the center and northern part of the Commonwealth. I can hardly wait for Romney's negative ads to start.
Old Vet,
They way you account for it is that these polls are taken only amongst Republican voters and they certainly do not represent the majority of voters in their state. Pennsylvania will be Obama's again in November, no doubt.
Given that Republicans tend to nominate the runner up of the last contest, what Santorum does in the next few weeks will tell us a great deal about what he thinks Romney's chances are in November. Obviously, if he thinks Romney will win, he might as well drop out because he'd have to wait eight years to try again and dropping out now improves his standing in the party so he can get a job in the new administration. If he thinks Romney is going to lose, then Santorum will keep at it just to increase his visibility in anticipation of 2016.
That's a pretty astute observation and assessment, I'm inclined to agree.
acspore--Thanks. Now watch him hang in there until July, have Romney win (shudder), and Santorum get to be attorney general (shudder twice).
Oh my, look at you both congratulating each other on complete nonsense.
Republicans that pay attention know Obama will win in November, they say it in these threads all the time. It's your delusional, Fox watching, Rush and Beck listening, Evangelical pseudo-Christian nut jobs that splatter the vine with hate speech and ignorant comments about how "ODumbo" or "Odummer" or "Obummer" or "B. Hussien" is going down!
The simple fact is that no Republican, even Romney, can secure 270 electoral votes. Obama's got this in the bag, and my prediction is he will even beat the 365 electoral votes he won in 2008, maybe even winning 400.
Proud--I wrote that Romney might win, even though I shudder at the prospect. Saying that Romney might win is hardly congratulating myself, nor is it utter nonsense. But I'm beginning to understand why you might be a Republican supporter.
Virginia--The RealClearPolitics electoral college map (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html) gives credence to what you say.
me too has congratualed slick rick he came from nowhere a big loser in his senate seat yet cam in 2nd in the gop primaries-and out spent ten to one he deserves credit for this- even those who hate him deserve to give him credit he came from no where and had a chance and actually won states considerin he was up against the gop machine he did well-some will say newt too-but newt was a insider to begin with I do the fact this slime ball once led the gop is a step back-how could they support this slime ball to begin with what were people thinkin-i guess they thought a slime ball like him was needed to defeat obama and stand up to him-ron paul-I dont understand his supporters at all you had no chance and actually had no chance of ever winnin-now hopefully you go behind has son who is young enough and could win- see romney havin a chance if he doesnt grasp the ryan plan and fights for social security medicare not doin so will mean his end no matter how bad the economy-tiieing seniors into the welfare crowd losers will mean the end of the gop as we see it- hopefully they come back to reality and realise the seniors run this nation and cuttin them off for some huge tax break for the rich will never cut the mustard
Just goes to show you those fine "christian" folk will support anyone who says they are one of them, even if he's the biggest dork ever. Why, they could never support a Mormon, unless of course, he ends up being the nominee and then all will be forgiven. Can you say HYPOCRITE?
Hey Ricky poo....there's not a snowball's chance in hell you'll ever get the nomination...take your placentas and go home and bury them, that's something your an expert at. Stay out of politics, your a L O S E R!
Santorum introducted 269 bills 7 were passed in his 16 years in congress. Not much of a record. Do you want another Senator as president?
S. 1324 (106th): A bill to expand the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include Wills House, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard “Rick” Santorum [R-PA, 1995-2006]
Introduced: Jul 01, 1999
Signed by the President: Oct 10, 2000
S. 3194 (106th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 431 George Street in Millersville, Pennsylvania, as the “Robert S. Walker Post Office”.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard “Rick” Santorum [R-PA, 1995-2006]
Introduced: Oct 12, 2000
Signed by the President: Nov 22, 2000
S. 2017 (108th): A bill to designate the United States courthouse and post office building located at 93 Atocha Street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the “Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building”.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard “Rick” Santorum [R-PA, 1995-2006]
Introduced: Jan 22, 2004
Signed by the President: Jul 07, 2004
S. 1310 (109th): Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Richard “Rick” Santorum [R-PA, 1995-2006]
Introduced: Jun 24, 2005
Signed by the President: Dec 30, 2005
Look at what all the mothers, fathers and caring family members would have lost out on because of Santorum. Santorum voted against the family and medical leave act - The bill that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during a 12 month period due to the birth or adoption of a child, a serious health condition of a family member or his or her own serious health condition.
Santorum had the audacity to vote against appropriating a billion more dollars for procurement of proper body armor and other equipment for Guardsmen and Reservists risking their lives in Iraq, just when body armor issues were coming to the forefront. Santorum voted to deny the Veterans Health Administration millions of additional dollars to help care for the nation’s military veterans.
Ron Paul introduced 602 bills while serving in congress. 1 passed.
Pauls' voting record is very questionable. There are, of course, many more other than these. Paul was one of two House members to vote against a September 2008 motion to adopt a bill extending a grant program for armor vests for law enforcement officers. That same month, he was one of two members to vote against suspending a rule and adopting a bill that would require group health plans to ensure that inpatient coverage and radiation therapy were provided for breast cancer treatment.
Santorum - getting Arlen Specter Relected. Specter was the final vote for Obamacare and Specter called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
“He made it a crusade.”
“He left no stone unturned.
He went out of his way to try to prevent Toomey from winning.”
Paul Weyrich, founder of the Free Congress Foundation
The Washington Post, Rick Santorum’s Greatest Sin; Endorsing Arlen Specter, 2/24/12
Supporting Spector was the one decent thing Rick did.
Santorum has repeatedly voted against increasing funding for Pell Grants that provide needed financial aid to lower-income students.
Santorum voted against an amendment to negotiate better prescription drug prices under Medicare.
Thanks for the info , Tag Romney! Should not you be out preparing for the invasion of Russia and Iran?