CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Will Rick Santorum Be the Next GOP ‘Flavor of the Week’?

Posted on | October 4, 2011 | 35 Comments

Recent media coverage of the Republican presidential field has focused on the front-runners, especially Herman Cain’s emergence as a contender. Little attention has been paid to a candidate who may be poised to make a move: Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

Santorum could benefit from recent developments, including the apparent decline of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s campaign. It was reported this week that several of Bachmann’s key staffers have left the campaign, and the third-quarter fundraising report due Oct. 15 is expected to show the Tea Party favorite’s coffers running low.

Bachmann surged in the polls after a strong performance in a June 13 debate in New Hampshire, and scored a big victory Aug. 13 in the Iowa GOP Straw Poll. Bachmann’s win at Ames knocked her fellow Minnesotan, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, out of the race, but the entry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry into the Republican field — at the Red State Gathering in South Carolina the same day as the Ames event — deprived her of the boost she might have expected from her Iowa success. Meanwhile, few in the media noticed that Santorum’s low-budget Iowa campaign had managed a fourth-place finish at Ames.

Perry’s stumbles in three debates in September – Sept. 7 at the Reagan Library, Sept. 12 in Tampa and Sept. 22 in Orlando – were followed by Cain’s surprise victory in the Sept. 24 Florida GOP straw poll. Since then, a series of polls have shown a steep decline in Perry’s support. While Perry was melting down in the September debates, many observers praised Santorum’s strong performances, especially in the Orlando debate, where Santorum hit Perry hard on the immigration issue.

With Bachmann’s campaign evidently in trouble, and Perry’s once-promising campaign thrown off-stride, Santorum could be positioned to gain support particularly among social conservatives who have historically played a key role in the Iowa caucuses. Florida’s decision to move up its primary to Jan. 31 means that Iowa will also move up its caucuses — perhaps as soon as late December — and Santorum has worked hard to build a grassroots organization in the Hawkeye State.

Santorum just completed another three-day swing through Iowa, telling a group in a small town Monday that “no candidate is working Iowa like I am.” And Santorum got good news Tuesday from New Hampshire, picking up the endorsement of former state Rep. Bill Cahill, who will serve as co-chairman of the Santorum campaign in the Granite State. (See full text of press release below.)

The 2012 Republican campaign so far has been defined by candidates rising and falling as “flavor of the week,” as Sarah Palin said. With two debates scheduled in coming weeks — Oct. 11 in Hanover, N.H. and Oct. 18 in Las Vegas, Nev. — Santorum will have a chance to make his case as the next flavor to challenge the front-runner vanilla of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

*** TEXT OF SANTORUM PRESS RELEASE ***

SANTORUM NAMES BILL CAHILL
NEW HAMPSHIRE CO-CHAIRMAN
AND SENIOR ADVISOR
Former Executive Councilor and State Representative
endorses Santorum for President

Verona, PA – Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) announced today that his campaign has received the endorsement of former Executive Councilor and State Representative Bill Cahill. Cahill will serve as Santorum’s New Hampshire Co-Chairman and Senior Advisor alongside Claira Monier.
Bill Cahill said, “I am excited to endorse Rick Santorum for President of the United States and I look forward to serving as the Senator’s New Hampshire Co-Chairman. Senator Santorum has shown he is committed to New Hampshire and has the work ethic Granite Staters demand from their candidates. The Senator’s passion and commitment to conservative principles are exactly what our nation needs right now to get back on track.”
Claira Monier said, “I am excited to work with Bill to help propel Senator Santorum to victory in New Hampshire. From working with Senator Santorum’s campaign since he announced, it is clear that he respects New Hampshire’s role as the First-in-the-Nation primary state and does not take our votes for granted. His commitment to New Hampshire and the nation is without doubt, and we look forward to making him our next president.”
Senator Santorum said, “I am honored to have Bill’s endorsement and thrilled that he will serve as a Senior Advisor and my New Hampshire Co-Chairman. Bill has a strong track-record of helping conservative candidates and a long history of standing up for conservative principles in both volunteer and elected positions. Bill is an esteemed member of the New Hampshire community and I look forward to working with him as we move toward victory in the First-in-the-Nation primary!”
Bill Cahill, of Piermont, is a former Executive Councilor from District 3 and a former New Hampshire State Representative. Cahill has served in numerous volunteer leadership positions on various presidential campaigns, including the 2008 campaign of Senator Fred Thompson and most recently as a member of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s New Hampshire steering committee. Cahill is the founder and CEO of Cahill Public Affairs, LLC.

Category: Election 2012, Rick Santorum

Comments

35 Responses to “CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Will Rick Santorum Be the Next GOP ‘Flavor of the Week’?”

Finrod Felagund
October 5th, 2011 @ 3:54 am

Santorum might be able to get second or third in Iowa, but I think that’ll be his high point. I saw a poll of Pennsylvania a week or two ago, and Santorum was running third in his home state. That’s not a good sign for him.
Anonymous
October 5th, 2011 @ 3:55 am

Is NH winner take all?
It would be a stunner if Mitt lost NH and certainly a blow to those Elitist Establishment Republicans we’ve been assured are too incompetent to influence a race for dogcatcher.
Adjoran
October 5th, 2011 @ 3:59 am

Not bloody likely.

Bachmann was relatively new on the national scene, Cain is definitely a fresh face, Perry wasn’t so well known outside Texas (as we’ve seen), Santorum is an old hand in Republican politics. He’s a known quantity; he was on the Sunday talkers for years while in the Senate.

You remember, back before he lost his seat by 13% to Bob Casey, Jr., who couldn’t be bothered to show up half the time for his job as State Treasurer.

I like Rick’s stands on social issues and general conservatism, but he lacks any executive or management experience at all. Like Barack Obama, he never managed anything larger than his Senate staff.

And he endorsed Arlen Specter for President in 1996. If what was painted on a rock Rick Perry didn’t own thirty years ago is relevant . . .
McGehee
October 5th, 2011 @ 4:11 am

Heh. Somebody could make an ad showing Santorum driving past a rock with “Arlen Specter for President” painted on it.
Joe
October 5th, 2011 @ 4:14 am

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/herman-cain-awlaki-iowa-and-9-9-9-plan_595029.html

Bill Kristol is willing to help. Make fun of the fat man will ya, well he will pay back Cain for that.
Joe
October 5th, 2011 @ 4:15 am

Now that would be obscene.
Joe
October 5th, 2011 @ 4:20 am

A guy who lost his senate seat by 20 points is damaged good.
jwallin
October 5th, 2011 @ 4:47 am

Cain was/is an unknown. He had nowhere to go but up.

Rick …. well Rick is a KNOWN quantity and that quantity is 0+

He might go up or down a bit but he’s not breaking into the top 3.

Bachmann should kiss it good by. Unless someone dies or gets caught with a teenage girl in Al Gore’s house buying carbon credits She’s toast.

Gingrich is on a nostalgia trip. Pining for yesteryear (and the fjords) before he blinked when the slickster called his bluff. That was his siren song.

But they say it’s not over until the fat, pompous, blowhard pontificates so who knows?
Charles
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:10 am

Rick Santorum is not the sort of conservative you can trust with your pocketbook, and he’ll have trouble beating Ron Paul in Iowa.
Adjoran
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:19 am

Dang it, his Daddy painted that rock over . . .
Anonymous
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:21 am

but the entry of Texas Gov. Tim Perry into the Republican field

One of the better typos of the week!

I like it!
Adjoran
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:22 am

You only THINK Billy Kristol is done.

Sources close to the bon vivant say he is already in talks with a Christie impersonator to jump into the race and finally convince the Jovial Jerseyite to run. Reportedly, Chaz Bono is willing as soon as the DWTS gig ends.
Adjoran
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:23 am

Nah, Rick’s still in pretty good shape. I’d say he would beat Ron Paul easily in Iowa – as long as he chooses the proper stick.
Joe
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:24 am

What did he paint it with? Cheese Whiz? I prefer provolone on mine.
Tennwriter
October 5th, 2011 @ 5:42 am

Keep on saying it…

A potted poison ivy plant with the letter R glitter dusted on to the side could beat Obama.

So, all Santorum needs to do is win the R Nom.

And I seem to recall that Nixon and Reagan came back from defeat. So losing way back when is not a sure-fire miss in the present.

Think of it this way. We’re finally getting a real conservative up there if he does really well.
Anonymous
October 5th, 2011 @ 7:10 am

I doubt it… Santorum just doesn’t have a winner’s sheen to him, comes across as kind of a putz actually
Zilla of the Resistance
October 5th, 2011 @ 10:16 am

As you know, he’s my first choice, because nobody else running, except maybe Newt, has as strong a grasp on foreign issues and the threat of islamic supremacism as Rick Santorum – and those are my top issues. No more ignorant and/or treasonous fuckery on the world stage, no more proselytizing for the people who want to kill us or throwing our friends under the bus while bowing to despots. If America is to resume her mantle as leader of the free world, she needs a leader who actually understands the world.
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October 5th, 2011 @ 7:29 am

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ThePaganTemple
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:23 am

Zilla, I agree in spirit with what you said, but do me one big favor. The next time you step into this wormhole you’ve discovered to this unknown “free world” take me along for the ride, I could use a va-cay, girl.
Bob Belvedere
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:23 am

Gingrich is on a nostalgia trip. Pining for yesteryear (and the fjords)….

But he can’t see the Fnords.
Anonymous
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:25 am

Nice post, RSM. Except you shouldn’t diss’ the flavor of vanilla!

I’ve drank hundreds of vanilla milkshakes (and three or four vanilla lattes). I know vanilla. Vanilla is a friend of mine. And Romney is no vanilla.
Bob Belvedere
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:27 am

I agree, but I also think he’s starting to overcome that as he gets more seasoned on the campaign trail. However, Adj’s point is very well taken:

…he lacks any executive or management experience at all. Like Barack
Obama, he never managed anything larger than his Senate staff.

Senators tend not to make very good Presidents. It’s a gamble — one I don’t think we can afford to make in these times.
ThePaganTemple
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:38 am

LOL Good one McGehee
ThePaganTemple
October 5th, 2011 @ 8:40 am

Herman Cain said the same thing I said about Santorum. “He looks stressed”. He left out the part about running after his debate opponents with a power-saw, but pretty much same sentiment. Rick needs to practice his debate style, drop the phony smile which does NOT flatter him at all, and he’ll do a lot better
Paul Zummo
October 5th, 2011 @ 9:06 am

There’s probably no one in the race that is as close to me ideologically as Santorum, but right now he’s barely my third choice. Most of the other commenters have touched on the reasons why that would be the case. As a conservative attack dog he’s great, but President of the United State? Eh.
Thomas Knapp
October 5th, 2011 @ 9:22 am

Santorum’s always been a sideshow type whose main virtue is a talent for public silliness that makes other Republicans look sensible by comparison.

Scratch that — that’s not his main virtue, it’s his only virtue. Take that away, and all you’ve got is a welfare (drama) queen who spent a whopping four years in government-related “private” law practice after college before going on the taxpayer teat full-time.

I still doubt that Obama is beatable, but if Santorum is the best the GOP can vomit up, they should just save their money, concede the election and promise to work hard to be ready for 2016.
ThePaganTemple
October 5th, 2011 @ 9:32 am

I will admit I’m nowhere near as convinced as a lot of people that Barak Hussein Obama is destined to join the ranks of such miserable failures as Carter, Hoover, or Buchanan, but he is without a doubt very beatable.

Where the rubber meets the road isn’t how he fares in national polling, but how he does state-by-state, and state-by-state he’s ailing, especially in key battle-ground states such as Florida, and even Pennsylvania, which is technically Biden’s home state.

Things are not looking good for the Teleprompter Messiah.
Thomas Knapp
October 5th, 2011 @ 9:42 am

ThePaganTemple,

All presidents are at least theoretically beatable. and 13 months is forever in politics.

A lot of things could happen to send the election some other way than Four More Years for Obama …

… but so far I’m not seeing them happen.

Basically, for the Republicans to win, they have to put up a very good candidate and Obama has to screw up (in terms of public approval) a lot worse than he has already.

Obama might hold up his end of that bargain (there may be more, and worse, Solyndras out there among other things), but so far the GOP doesn’t seem to be interested.

A party which considers Rick Santorum a serious candidate for its presidential nomination just isn’t interested in winning the White House.
Tennwriter
October 5th, 2011 @ 9:48 am

Given that his competition includes Mitt….

Santorum vs. Mitt. Clearly Santorum.

Santorum vs. Bachmann. Not sure, but Bachmann looks to be maybe soon gone.

Santorum vs. Perry. Santorum. Perry’s not bad, he’s just soft.

Santorum vs. Chris Christie. One, Christie ain’t running, and two, definitely Santorum.

Santorum vs. Gov. Asterisk. Um, do you even need to ask?

Santorum vs. Cain. Now thats an interesting question. I favor Santorum, but I wouldn’t be upset if Cain beat him out.

Santorum vs. Palin. Oh, Palin, definitely. Fact is, my preferred ticket is Palin/Santorum with Cain as Sec Commerce.

I think this little exercise clears the issue up quite a bit.

Santorum is a serious candidate from necessity.
ThePaganTemple
October 5th, 2011 @ 11:09 am

Well Santorum is only polling like 3% or less in almost every poll I’ve seen so I don’t see where you’re getting that the party considers him anything. The party isn’t exactly funneling a volcanic eruption of campaign cash his way.

Granted, there are a lot of things the GOP can and should focus on besides the economy, and I’m sure the more on top of things candidates are conducting research now and keeping abreast on such matters as Solyndra and Gunwalker. Its just a matter of using them and other things the right way at the right time.
Anonymous
October 5th, 2011 @ 12:21 pm

You give Obama too much credit which isn’t to say he wont win but that the public could blow it. He has zero actual redeeming values and leads a party whose governing and election models are doomed to failure not a matter of if, only when. The only thing he’s got now is class warfare something that is much easier to ramp up than tamp down at will.
Thomas Knapp
October 5th, 2011 @ 12:21 pm

ThePaganTemple,

You are correct, sir (or Ma’am). I was unreasonably assuming more momentum for Santorum than was warranted — basically taking this blog post’s ball and running it way down the field.

The thing about running on the economy is that it tends not to work well for GOP candidates versus Democrat incumbents. It should work well, but it doesn’t. I’m guessing that this has to do with a visceral, rather than thoughtful, response from the center — “the government should doooooooooo something!” — that Democrats are good at making bank with.

I’m surprised that neither Solyndra nor Gunwalker have grown big legs yet in terms of really dragging Obama down. Maybe they will. Or maybe he’s teflon, like his most recent Democrat predecessor.
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