‘They Have Begun to Consider the Implications of a Santorum Victory’

Posted on | February 18, 2012 | 74 Comments

Do you remember the scene in the original Rocky, when one of Apollo Creed’s handlers points out that this luckless no-name Philly palooka is a southpaw? Left-handed boxers are unusual enough that Creed’s man was a little worried, and then he watched that TV news spot of Rocky Balboa practicing his body work by pounding on beef carcasses in a freezer.

And breaking ribs . . .

That scene came to mind today when I picked up the Saturday Washington Post and read a story at the bottom of the front page:

Obama’s Chicago-based reelection team has begun digging into Santorum’s background, diverting opposition researchers who thus far had been focused on Romney. They also blasted an e-mail to supporters in Pennsylvania, asking them to submit their most damning recollections of Santorum, a former senator from the state.
Though campaign officials still view Romney as the likely nominee, they have begun to consider the implications of a Santorum victory. They view him as a weaker general election opponent, but one who has shown an ability to connect with the population that is most disillusioned with Obama: white, blue-collar voters. . . .

Read the rest. We would be getting way ahead of the game to speculate too much of how this Italian kid might fare against The Champ. But there are a few folks in The Champ’s corner who seem worried that The Champ has some vulnerabilities that this luckless palooka could be uniquely positioned to exploit. Bitter gun-and-Bible clingers, anyone?

Look at what Santorum did to Romney in Ohio: Stole away one of his key endorsements in a crucial Super Tuesday state. A week ago, Santorum was in fourth-place in the Michigan polls, but now he’s beating Romney in Romney’s home state. And suddenly Mitt just lost the co-chair of his Arizona campaign (because nobody cares about “moral issues,” you see).

They used to say Romney was “inevitable,” but now Mitt’s starting to look more and more like . . . well, dead meat.

Hey, Champ: Watch your ribs.

Category: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Rick Santorum

Comments

74 Responses to “‘They Have Begun to Consider the Implications of a Santorum Victory’”

richard mcenroe
February 18th, 2012 @ 5:51 pm

To be fair, that Ohio DA is an endorsement slut that would draw stares even at CPAC. I think the only guy he HASN’T endorsed so far is Crazy Uncle Ron.
Multimedia Group
February 18th, 2012 @ 6:17 pm

And now Santorum is throwing a BS flag on Obama’s Christian values saying they’re not Biblical. No duh. Does anyone seriously think that Obama is a Christian in the technical sense of the term?

I wonder if there is a special place in hades for people who claimed to be a Christian for political purposes?
richard mcenroe
February 18th, 2012 @ 6:30 pm

Well, there was the Bakker’s Heritage USA amusement park, but I think that closed.
Beto_Ochoa
February 18th, 2012 @ 6:52 pm

The implications of a Santorum victory to the RNC are the immediate propagandizing about a “Brokered Convention” and Jeb Bush being pushed as the savior. As if the leftiest of the Bushes is the answer.
tranquil.night
February 18th, 2012 @ 6:55 pm

The next Santorum ad needs a classic 80s beat and a bunch of montage shots of Rick practicing on a punching a worn old bag labeled “ObamaCare” and doing sprints outdoors while reciting articles of the Constitution. Preparing for the Epic Fight – with the sweatervest ON.
Pathfinder's wife
February 18th, 2012 @ 7:13 pm

While I have nothing personal against Jeb Bush, if the RNC thinks that this is a good idea they are far more stupid than I previously thought.
Mike Rogers
February 18th, 2012 @ 7:28 pm

No Democrat can win without carrying OH, PA, and MI. Santorum seems to be connecting well with voters in all of them.
Furthermore, far from alienating independents, he seems to be picking them up. Mittens and O’Bummer should fear the vest!
rosalie
February 18th, 2012 @ 7:36 pm

You could be on to something with the Rocky comparison. It’s something the younger generation could latch onto. I like it.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 7:55 pm

The upstart kid from Pennsylvania vs. the over confident champion of ~~Iowa~~…I mean Florida, I did a Separated at Birth on the topic!
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 7:58 pm

Come on Richard, that endorsement from the Ohio DA does not mean anything (other than he is reading the tea leaves and thinks Santorum is going to win Ohio so he wants to be on the winning side). But you now what is a very good sign: When Dan Riehl is defending Rick Santorum. http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2012/02/dear-spineless-cowards-stfu-about-santorums-religion-based-comments.html
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:03 pm

Jeb Bush being foisted on us would mean Barack Obama would be elected in a land slide. Because there would be all out revolt on the right. A brokered convention beyond the current candidates might work if there was a strong candidate who people could generally agree on were the alternative. I do not know who that would be but it is not going to be Jeb Bush. It is not going to be Mitch Daniels either. But if Mitt and Santorum do not have enough delegates to clinch, there is going to be some sort of brokered deal. There would have to be. But it would probably be between Mitt and Santorum.
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:15 pm

The RNC is doing NO SUCH THING. You are quoting Jonathan Karl of ABC quoting an unnamed Republican Senator, who for all we know exists only in Karl’s mind.

It’s amazing how much faith conservatives will suddenly put in leftist propaganda hacks when their reports feed your conspiracy lunacy, isn’t it?
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:17 pm

The younger generation? That movie was from the mid-’70s. It’s about as current as Hall and Oates to the younger generation.
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:18 pm

What would Stacy have said if DeWine had just endorsed Romney? Would it be a “key endorsement” then, or would he be talking about what a pathetic squish DeWine was in the Senate?

At some point, the fanboy stuff just becomes a joke.
PhillyCon
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:20 pm

Yes, that is amazing. Wow.
Peter Ingemi
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:25 pm

I think the Romney campaign is thinking of a quote from Rocky 2 instead:

“I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before, and the man kept coming after you.”That’s Rick Santorum all over
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:36 pm

I could not believe it at first, but it is easier for Dan to do that than to say “vote for Mitt.”
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:37 pm

DeWine is just looking for a winner. In that sense it is a good sign for Santorum.
JeffWeimer
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:40 pm

If their taste in music runs somewhere between REO Speedwagon and Olivia Newton-John then yes, those whippersnappers should eat it up.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:41 pm

Adjoran, really? Who is being naive? You do not think if neither Santorum or Romney have the necessary delegates at convention time to clinch that there will be a “game of thrones” going on in Tampa? And that Rove and his cronies will be trying to promote Jeb. Hopefully Jeb has enough sense to nix it. But I know they are thinking about it. And Mitch Daniels too.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:42 pm

That is true. Even Rambo is ancient history.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
February 18th, 2012 @ 8:56 pm

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/02/17/rasmussen-santorum-could-be-romneys-nightmare/ Well Stacy never considers polls to be important…so never mind this.
richard mcenroe
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:05 pm

Can we get Jason Statham to play him in a commercial?
rosalie
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:08 pm

I know that my grandson watched the Rocky movies and liked them. I’m sure he’s not the only one.
Mike Rogers
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:25 pm

Hah! Daniels. The one who had to ask his wife’s permission – if you have to ask for permission, you doon’t have it!!
newrouter
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:30 pm

”
“It’s about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology
based on the Bible, a different theology. But no less a theology,” Mr.
Santorum said, to wide applause.
His comments brought a swift
rebuke from the Obama re-election campaign, which in the past has tended
to focus more on attacks by Mitt Romney. Their quick attention may be
an indication that Democrats believe Mr. Santorum’s momentum now means
he stands a decent chance of defeating Mr. Romney for the Republican
nomination and facing Mr. Obama in the general election this fall.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/santorum-calls-obamas-agenda-about-some-phony-theology/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:46 pm

You are the one being naive if you think delegates pledged to candidates are going to desert them for someone who never even got off the sofa.

And you’re getting frantic about an anonymous source who could be made up entirely, or Olympia Snowe. Suddenly Karl is a credible reporter who must be believed?

Get a grip.
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:46 pm

Who?
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 9:47 pm

How stupid do you have to be to screw up even a simple cut and paste?
ThePaganTemple
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:08 pm

What’s wrong Adj, are you getting in a bad mood?
newrouter
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:22 pm

ax diquss dumb arse
Pathfinder's wife
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:25 pm

Yeah, but Rocky is now a cultural theme and well known to the younger crowd as well.
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:35 pm

No, this is me in a good mood.
Adjoran
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:36 pm

There is an “edit” function, wanker boy, you could take out the misplaced returns if you wanted anyone to read your NYT paste job, but that’s obviously beyond your skill level.

Don’t go out without a helmet, mmmkay?
ThePaganTemple
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:42 pm

Maybe not the RNC so much as RSCC, which MacGahee says Cornyn runs. Think about it, he’s responsible for seeing Republicans elect more members to the Senate, so if he honestly thinks Santorum would cause them to lose, it starts to make sense. Remember, these Establishment RINOs are the kinds of people who love to play footsie under the table with the MSM.
Pathfinder's wife
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:44 pm

Wow, who whizzed in your cornflakes?

For such an inconsequential thing you seem to be getting more than a bit reactive to it.

Time to face facts: your boy Romney should be doing much better than he is right now, but he isn’t — and the reason why is because he can’t seem to connect worth a damn to the common, everyday Joe voter. His communication problems just reinforce his image problems — which is too bad, because I’ve heard he isn’t at all the way he comes across — and those in turn are not helped by his political history (just reinforces some of the negative image around him imho).
At this point I don’t know if he can tinker with this too much and have a good return on the risk.
ThePaganTemple
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:45 pm

Sure they would, for the simple fact they’re fucking crazy. How many times now have they floated out that fucking Jeb Bush trial balloon. At least twice, if not three times. And twice they’ve floated Daniels. Chris Fucking Christie lost thirty pounds running from those motherfuckers. Hell they even got so desperate they actually floated Paul Ryan as a prospect. They’re off the fucking charts desperate.
ThePaganTemple
February 18th, 2012 @ 10:48 pm

The first one was a great film, the second one was just a good follow-up, the rest? Meh
SDN
February 18th, 2012 @ 11:09 pm

Which is why I laugh so hard at you, Mittboi.

Kettle, thou art black. — Pot.
CO
February 19th, 2012 @ 12:48 am

I am beginning to consider the implications of a brokered convention: Sarah Palin.
JimmyDean
February 19th, 2012 @ 1:32 am

Yea, just like Christine O’Donnell and Sharon Angle REALLY showed those Democrats what’s up!

Everyone knows the reason why Republicans don’t win important elections is because we don’t emphasize social issues enough, now we finally got a guy that’s willing to condemn married people for using birth control. We have them on the ropes now!

We really are the Stupid Party, Democrats are salivating right now.
Apparently Gays Aren’t Supposed to Be in the Closet But Catholics Are
February 19th, 2012 @ 5:20 am

[…] Stacy McCain: They have begun to consider the implications of a Santorum victory Share this: : Claims Against Rick, Politics : 2012 Election, Homosexuality, Mitt Romney, […]
Guest
February 19th, 2012 @ 5:53 am

Translation: “The biggest and mst consistant voter block in the Republican Party should jsut shut up about its values and let the DemocratLite minority run things- we’ve been ever so successful so far.”

Well, if you don’t like us SoCons you’re more than weelcome to win an election all by yourselves. So you’re gonna go right to that, huh?

*crickets chirping*
ThePaganTemple
February 19th, 2012 @ 7:11 am

Wow, who whizzed in your cornflakes?

Guilty as charged.

His communication problems just reinforce his image problems — which is
too bad, because I’ve heard he isn’t at all the way he comes across

The refrain of fucking losers everywhere. I can think of three right off the top of my head. Bob Dole, Al Gore, and John Kerry. A Mitt Romney nomination would produce the same results.
ThePaganTemple
February 19th, 2012 @ 7:18 am

Yeah, it doesn’t help when you squishes join in with the Democrats in purposely misrepresenting conservative positions and statements, but what you don’t realize is we’re on to the game. And if Rick Santorum does get the nomination, and you continue misrepresenting his positions the way you have here, you might want to consider handing in your GOP membership card, because otherwise a lot of us, more than you think, aren’t going to stand for this fucking shit any longer.

I have your sausage for you right here Jimmy.
Brendon Carr
February 19th, 2012 @ 7:48 am

Mitt Romney’s problem is that he is a decent, smart, capable and successful man who somehow manages to come off as a phoney.

America’s problem is that Barack Obama is a phoney (actually, I think actively malevolent, but the saving grace is his general laziness) man who manages — with the active conspiracy of his enablers in our media — to come off as decent, smart and successful.
Pathfinder's wife
February 19th, 2012 @ 9:23 am

If the GOP does that they are stupider than I previously thought.
Not that I have anything personal against Mrs. Palin.

If they went with a brokered convention (which is a bad idea to be floating out with Santorum picking up momentum anyway) then they would have to go with somebody who gets people to rally behind them (and Bush and Palin will not do that).
smitty
February 19th, 2012 @ 9:29 am

It may be that Sarah would flop; I’m not claiming prescience.

However, and I really don’t think she should emerge as the GOP nominee, BTW, if she did–holy canole: she would ignite conservatives nationwide, in a way that would startle you.

OTOH, the negatives are what they are. I think the well has been sufficiently poisoned that I am not excited at the thought of seeing her get nominated, and have to deal with the Lefty ugliness that would ensue.
BeckyInLouisiana
February 19th, 2012 @ 9:33 am

he has NEVER condemned anyone for using birth control and he’s never said he’s going to outlaw birth control; you sound like a democratic talking point
Pathfinder's wife
February 19th, 2012 @ 9:33 am

Well he does come off like a used BMW salesman (the hair is too high end to be selling Fords), and providing soundbites like along the lines of not caring for the poor and liking to fire people in the midst of the current economy don’t help (neither did the dog incident; that was damaging) — he comes off like an elitist technocrat, and this has always been a tough sell in America and doubly so this year.

And any GOP canidate should know, KNOW that the media isn’t going to be backing them over Obama — so it’s up to the canidate, and Romney isn’t really doing it.